中国经典 》 紅樓夢 A Dream of Red Mansions 》
第五十四回 史太君破陳腐舊套 王熙鳳效戲彩斑衣 CHAPTER LIV.
曹雪芹 Cao Xueqin
高鶚 Gao E
CHAPTER LIV.
卻說賈珍賈璉暗暗預備下大簸籮的錢，聽見賈母說"賞"，他們也忙命小廝們快撒錢。衹聽滿臺錢響，賈母大悅。
二人遂起身， 小廝們忙將一把新暖銀壺捧在賈璉手內，隨了賈珍趨至裏面。賈珍先至李嬸席上，躬身取下杯來，回身，賈璉忙斟了一盞，然後便至薛姨媽席上，也斟了。二人忙起身笑說：“二位爺請坐着罷了，何必多禮。”於是除邢王二夫人，滿席都離了席，俱垂手旁侍。賈珍等至賈母榻前，因榻矮，二人便屈膝跪了。賈珍在先捧杯，賈璉在後捧壺。 雖止二人奉酒，那賈環弟兄等，卻也是排班按序，一溜隨着他二人進來，見他二人跪下， 也都一溜跪下。寶玉也忙跪下了。史湘雲悄推他笑道：“你這會又幫着跪下作什麽？ 有這樣，你也去斟一巡酒豈不好？"寶玉悄笑道：“再等一會子再斟去。”說着，等他二人斟完起來， 方起來。又與邢夫人王夫人斟過來。賈珍笑道：“妹妹們怎麽樣呢？"賈母等都說：“你們去罷，他們倒便宜些。”說了，賈珍等方退出。
當下天未二鼓， 戲演的是《八義》中《觀燈》八出。正在熱鬧之際，寶玉因下席往外走。賈母因說：“你往那裏去！外頭爆竹利害，仔細天上掉下火紙來燒了。”寶玉回說：“不往遠去，衹出去就來。”賈母命婆子們好生跟着。於是寶玉出來，衹有麝月秋紋並幾個小丫頭隨着。 賈母因說：“襲人怎麽不見？他如今也有些拿大了，單支使小女孩子出來。”王夫人忙起身笑回道：“他媽前日沒了，因有熱孝，不便前頭來。”賈母聽了點頭， 又笑道：“跟主子卻講不起這孝與不孝。若是他還跟我，難道這會子也不在這裏不成？皆因我們太寬了，有人使，不查這些，竟成了例了。”鳳姐兒忙過來笑回道：“今兒晚上他便沒孝，那園子裏也須得他看着，燈燭花炮最是耽險的。這裏一唱戲，園子裏的人誰不偷來瞧瞧。他還細心，各處照看照看。況且這一散後寶兄弟回去睡覺，各色都是齊全的。若他再來了，衆人又不經心，散了回去，鋪蓋也是冷的，茶水也不齊備，各色都不便宜， 所以我叫他不用來，衹看屋子。散了又齊備，我們這裏也不耽心，又可以全他的禮，豈不三處有益。老祖宗要叫他，我叫他來就是了。”賈母聽了這話，忙說：“你這話很是，比我想的周到，快別叫他了。但衹他媽幾時沒了，我怎麽不知道。”鳳姐笑道：“前兒襲人去親自回老太太的，怎麽倒忘了。”賈母想了一想笑說：“想起來了。我的記性竟平常了。 "衆人都笑說：“老太太那裏記得這些事。”賈母因又嘆道：“我想着，他從小兒伏侍了我一場，又伏侍了雲兒一場，末後給了一個魔王寶玉，虧他魔了這幾年。他又不是咱們傢的根生土長的奴才， 沒受過咱們什麽大恩典。他媽沒了，我想着要給他幾兩銀子發送， 也就忘了。”鳳姐兒道：“前兒太太賞了他四十兩銀子，也就是了。”賈母聽說，點頭道：“這還罷了。正好鴛鴦的娘前兒也死了，我想他老子娘都在南邊，我也沒叫他傢去走走守孝， 如今叫他兩個一處作伴兒去。”又命婆子將些果子菜饌點心之類與他兩個吃去。琥珀笑說：“還等這會子呢，他早就去了。”說着，大傢又吃酒看戲。
且說寶玉一徑來至園中，衆婆子見他回房，便不跟去，衹坐在園門裏茶房裏烤火，和管茶的女人偷空飲酒鬥牌。寶玉至院中字實為堯、舜、禹心心相傳的個人修養和治理國傢的基本原，雖是燈光燦爛，卻無人聲。麝月道：“他們都睡了不成？咱們悄悄的進去唬他們一跳。”於是大傢躡足潛蹤的進了鏡壁一看，衹見襲人和一人二人對面都歪在地炕上，那一頭有兩三個老嬤嬤打盹。寶玉衹當他兩個睡着了， 纔要進去，忽聽鴛鴦嘆了一聲，說道：“可知天下事難定。論理你單身在這裏，父母在外頭，每年他們東去西來，沒個定準，想來你是不能送終的了，偏生今年就死在這裏， 你倒出去送了終。”襲人道：“正是。我也想不到能夠看父母回首。太太又賞了四十兩銀子，這倒也算養我一場，我也不敢妄想了。”寶玉聽了，忙轉身悄嚮麝月等鵲*：“誰知他也來了。我這一進去，他又賭氣走了，不如咱們回去罷，讓他兩個清清靜靜的說一回。襲人正一個悶着，他幸而來的好。”說着，仍悄悄的出來。
寶玉便走過山石之後去站着撩衣，麝月秋紋皆站住背過臉去，口內笑說：“蹲下再解小衣，仔細風吹了肚子。”後面兩個小丫頭子知是小解，忙先出去茶房預備去了。這裏寶玉剛轉過來，衹見兩個媳婦子迎面來了，問是誰，秋紋道：“寶玉在這裏，你大呼小叫， 仔細唬着罷。”那媳婦們忙笑道：“我們不知道，大節下來惹禍了。姑娘們可連日辛苦了。 "說着，已到了跟前。麝月等問：“手裏拿的是什麽？"媳婦們道：“是老太太賞金，花二位姑娘吃的。 "秋紋笑道：“外頭唱的是《八義》，沒唱《混元盒》，那裏又跑出’金花娘娘’來了。”寶玉笑命：“揭起來我瞧瞧。”秋紋麝月忙上去將兩個盒子揭開。兩個媳婦忙蹲下身子， 寶玉看了兩盒內都是席上所有的上等果品菜饌，點了一點頭，邁步就走。 麝月二人忙胡亂擲了盒蓋，跟上來。寶玉笑道：“這兩個女人倒和氣，會說話，他們天天乏了， 倒說你們連日辛苦，倒不是那矜功自伐的。”麝月道：“這好的也很好，那不知禮的也太不知禮。”寶玉笑道：“你們是明白人，耽待他們是粗笨可憐的人就完了。”一面說，一面來至園門。那幾個婆子雖吃酒鬥牌，卻不住出來打探，見寶玉來了，也都跟上了。來至花廳後廊上，衹見那兩個小丫頭一個捧着小沐盆，一個搭着手巾，又拿着漚子壺在那裏久等。秋紋先忙伸手嚮盆內試了一試，說道：“你越大越粗心了，那裏弄的這冷水。”小丫頭笑道：“姑娘瞧瞧這個天，我怕水冷，巴巴的倒的是滾水，這還冷了。”正說着，可巧見一個老婆子提着一壺滾水走來。小丫頭便說：“好奶奶，過來給我倒上些。 "那婆子道：“哥哥兒，這是老太太泡茶的，勸你走了舀去罷，那裏就走大了腳。”秋紋道：“憑你是誰的，你不給？我管把老太太茶吊子倒了洗手。”那婆子回頭見是秋紋，忙提起壺來就倒。秋紋道：“夠了。你這麽大年紀也沒個見識，誰不知是老太太的水！要不着的人就敢要了。”婆子笑道：“我眼花了，沒認出這姑娘來。”寶玉洗了手，那小丫頭子拿小壺倒了些漚子在他手內，寶玉漚了。秋紋麝月也趁熱水洗了一回，漚了，跟進寶玉來。
寶玉便要了一壺暖酒，也從李嬸薛姨媽斟起，二人也讓坐。賈母便說：“他小，讓他斟去， 大傢倒要幹過這杯。”說着，便自己幹了。邢王二夫人也忙幹了，讓他二人。薛李也衹得幹了。 賈母又命寶玉道：“連你姐姐妹妹一齊斟上，不許亂斟，都要叫他幹了。”寶玉聽說， 答應着，一一按次斟了。至黛玉前，偏他不飲，拿起杯來，放在寶玉唇上邊，寶玉一氣飲幹。 黛玉笑說：“多謝。”寶玉替他斟上一杯。鳳姐兒便笑道：“寶玉，別喝冷酒， 仔細手顫，明兒寫不得字，拉不得弓。”寶玉忙道：“沒有吃冷酒。”鳳姐兒笑道：“我知道沒有， 不過白囑咐你。”然後寶玉將裏面斟完，衹除賈蓉之妻是丫頭們斟的。復出至廊上，又與賈珍等斟了。坐了一回，方進來仍歸舊坐。
一時上湯後， 又接獻元宵來。賈母便命將戲暫歇歇：“小孩子們可憐見的，也給他們些滾湯滾菜的吃了再唱。”又命將各色果子元宵等物拿些與他們吃去。一時歇了戲，便有婆子帶了兩個門下常走的女先生兒進來，放兩張杌子在那一邊命他坐了的世界觀，就有什麽樣的方法論。用辯證唯物主義的世界觀，將弦子琵琶遞過去。賈母便問李薛聽何書，他二人都回說：“不拘什麽都好。”賈母便問：“近來可有添些什麽新書？ "那兩個女先兒回說道：“倒有一段新書，是殘唐五代的故事。”賈母問是何名，女先兒道：“叫做《鳳求鸞》。”賈母道：“這一個名字倒好，不知因什麽起的，先大概說說原故，若好再說。”女先兒道：“這書上乃說殘唐之時，有一位鄉紳，本是金陵人氏， 名喚王忠，曾做過兩朝宰輔。如今告老還傢，膝下衹有一位公子，名喚王熙鳳。”衆人聽了，笑將起來。賈母笑道：“這重了我們鳳丫頭了。”媳婦忙上去推他，"這是二奶奶的名字， 少混說。”賈母笑道：“你說，你說。”女先生忙笑着站起來，說：“我們該死了， 不知是奶奶的諱。”鳳姐兒笑道：“怕什麽，你們衹管說罷，重名重姓的多呢。”女先生又說道：“這年王老爺打發了王公子上京趕考，那日遇見大雨，進到一個莊上避雨。 誰知這莊上也有個鄉紳，姓李，與王老爺是世交，便留下這公子住在書房裏。這李鄉紳膝下無兒，衹有一位千金小姐。這小姐芳名叫作雛鸞，琴棋書畫，無所不通。”賈母忙道：“怪道叫作《鳳求鸞》。不用說，我猜着了，自然是這王熙鳳要求這雛鸞小姐為妻。”女先兒笑道：“老祖宗原來聽過這一回書。”衆人都道：“老太太什麽沒聽過！便沒聽過，也猜着了。”賈母笑道：“這些書都是一個套子，左不過是些佳人才子，最沒趣兒。把人傢女兒說的那樣壞，還說是佳人，編的連影兒也沒有了。開口都是書香門第，父親不是尚書就是宰相，生一個小姐必是愛如珍寶。這小姐必是通文知禮，無所不曉，竟是個絶代佳人。 衹一見了一個清俊的男人，不管是親是友，便想起終身大事來，父母也忘了，書禮也忘了，鬼不成鬼，賊不成賊，那一點兒是佳人？便是滿腹文章，做出這些事來，也算不得是佳人了。 比如男人滿腹文章去作賊，難道那王法就說他是才子，就不入賊情一案不成？ 可知那編書的是自己塞了自己的嘴。再者，既說是世宦書香大傢小姐都知禮讀書，連夫人都知書識禮，便是告老還傢，自然這樣大傢人口不少，奶母丫鬟伏侍小姐的人也不少，怎麽這些書上，凡有這樣的事，就衹小姐和緊跟的一個丫鬟？你們白想想，那些人都是管什麽的，可是前言不答後語？"衆人聽了，都笑說：“老太太這一說，是謊都批出來了。 "賈母笑道：“這有個原故：編這樣書的，有一等妒人傢富貴，或有求不遂心， 所以編出來污穢人傢。再一等，他自己看了這些書看魔了，他也想一個佳人，所以編了出來取樂。何嘗他知道那世宦讀書傢的道理！別說他那書上那些世宦書禮大傢， 如今眼下真的，拿我們這中等人傢說起，也沒有這樣的事，別說是那些大傢子。可知是謅掉了下巴的話。所以我們從不許說這些書，丫頭們也不懂這些話。這幾年我老了，他們姊妹們住的遠，我偶然悶了，說幾句聽聽，他們一來，就忙歇了。”李薛二人都笑說：“這正是大傢的規矩，連我們傢也沒這些雜話給孩子們聽見。”
鳳姐兒走上來斟酒， 笑道：“罷，罷，酒冷了，老祖宗喝一口潤潤嗓子再掰謊。這一回就叫作《掰謊記》，就出在本朝本地本年本月本日本時，老祖宗一張口難說兩傢話， 花開兩朵，各表一枝，是真是謊且不表，再整那觀燈看戲的人。老祖宗且讓這二位親戚吃一杯酒看兩出戲之後，再從昨朝話言掰起如何？"他一面斟酒，一面笑說，未曾說完， 衆人俱已笑倒。兩個女先生也笑個不住，都說：“奶奶好剛口。奶奶要一說書，真連我們吃飯的地方也沒了。”薛姨媽笑道：“你少興頭些，外頭有人，比不得往常。”鳳姐兒笑道：“外頭的衹有一位珍大爺。我們還是論哥哥妹妹，從小兒一處淘氣了這麽大。這幾年因做了親，我如今立了多少規矩了。便不是從小兒的兄妹，便以伯叔論，那《二十四孝》上’斑衣戲彩’，他們不能來’戲彩’引老祖宗笑一笑，我這裏好容易引的老祖宗笑了一笑，多吃了一點兒東西，大傢喜歡，都該謝我纔是，難道反笑話我不成？"賈母笑道：“可是這兩日我竟沒有痛痛的笑一場，倒是虧他纔一路笑的我心裏痛快了些，我再吃一鐘酒。”吃着酒，又命寶玉：“也敬你姐姐一杯。”鳳姐兒笑道：“不用他敬，我討老祖宗的壽罷。”說着，便將賈母的杯拿起來，將半杯剩酒吃了，將杯遞與丫鬟，另將溫水浸的杯換了一個上來。 於是各席上的杯都撤去，另將溫水浸着待換的杯斟了新酒上來，然後歸坐。
女先生回說：“老祖宗不聽這書，或者彈一套麯子聽聽罷。”賈母便說道：“你們兩個對一套《將軍令》罷。”二人聽說，忙和弦按調撥弄起來。賈母因問：“天有幾更了。”衆婆子忙回：“三更了。”賈母道：“怪道寒浸浸的起來。”早有衆丫鬟拿了添換的衣裳送來。王夫人起身笑說道：“老太太不如挪進暖閣裏地炕上倒也罷了。這二位親戚也不是外人，我們陪着就是了。”賈母聽說，笑道：“既這樣說，不如大傢都挪進去，豈不暖和？"王夫人道：“恐裏間坐不下。”賈母笑道：“我有道理。如今也不用這些桌子，衹用兩三張並起來，大傢坐在一處擠着，又親香，又暖和。”衆人都道：“這纔有趣。”說着，便起了席。衆媳婦忙撤去殘席，裏面直順並了三張大桌，另又添換了果饌擺好。賈母便說：“這都不要拘禮， 衹聽我分派你們就坐纔好。”說着便讓薛李正面上坐，自己西嚮坐了，叫寶琴， 黛玉，湘雲三人皆緊依左右坐下，嚮寶玉說：“你挨着你太太。”於是邢夫人王夫人之中夾着寶玉，寶釵等姊妹在西邊，挨次下去便是婁氏帶着賈菌，尤氏李紈夾着賈蘭，下面橫頭便是賈蓉之妻。賈母便說：“珍哥兒帶着你兄弟們去罷，我也就睡了。”
賈珍忙答應，又都進來。賈母道：“快去罷！不用進來，纔坐好了，又都起來。你快歇着，明日還有大事呢。”賈珍忙答應了聞於齊，人稱賢師。，又笑說：“留下蓉兒斟酒纔是。”賈母笑道：“正是忘了他。 "賈珍答應了一個"是"，便轉身帶領賈璉等出來。二人自是歡喜，便命人將賈琮賈璜各自送回傢去，便邀了賈璉去追歡買笑，不在話下。
這裏賈母笑道：“我正想着雖然這些人取樂，竟沒一對雙全的，就忘了蓉兒。這可全了， 蓉兒就合你媳婦坐在一處，倒也團圓了。”因有媳婦回說開戲，賈母笑道：“我們娘兒們正說的興頭，又要吵起來。況且那孩子們熬夜怪冷的，也罷，叫他們且歇歇，把咱們的女孩子們叫了來， 就在這臺上唱兩出給他們瞧瞧。”媳婦聽了，答應了出來，忙的一面着人往大觀園去傳人，一面二門口去傳小廝們伺候。小廝們忙至戲房將班中所有的大人一概帶出，衹留下小孩子們。
一時， 梨香院的教習帶了文官等十二個人，從遊廊角門出來。婆子們抱着幾個軟包， 因不及擡箱，估料着賈母愛聽的三五出戲的彩衣包了來。婆子們帶了文官等進去見過， 衹垂手站着。賈母笑道：“大正月裏，你師父也不放你們出來逛逛。你等唱什麽？剛纔八出< <八義》鬧得我頭疼，咱們清淡些好。你瞧瞧，薛姨太太這李親傢太太都是有戲的人傢，不知聽過多少好戲的。這些姑娘都比咱們傢姑娘見過好戲，聽過好麯子。如今這小戲子又是那有名玩戲傢的班子， 雖是小孩子們，卻比大班還強。咱們好歹別落了褒貶，少不得弄個新樣兒的。叫芳官唱一出《尋夢》，衹提琴至管蕭合，笙笛一概不用。”文官笑道：“這也是的，我們的戲自然不能入姨太太和親傢太太姑娘們的眼，不過聽我們一個發脫口齒， 再聽一個喉嚨罷了。”賈母笑道：“正是這話了。”李嬸薛姨媽喜的都笑道：“好個靈透孩子，他也跟着老太太打趣我們。”賈母笑道：“我們這原是隨便的頑意兒，又不出去做買賣，所以竟不大合時。”說着又道：“叫葵官唱一出《惠明下書》，也不用抹臉。衹用這兩出叫他們聽個疏異罷了。若省一點力，我可不依。”文官等聽了出來， 忙去扮演上臺，先是《尋夢》，次是《下書》。衆人都鴉雀無聞，薛姨媽因笑道：“實在虧他，戲也看過幾百班，從沒見用簫管的。”賈母道：“也有，衹是象方纔《西樓。楚江晴》一支，多有小生吹蕭和的。這大套的實在少，這也在主人講究不講究罷了。 這算什麽出奇？"指湘雲道：“我象他這麽大的時節，他爺爺有一班小戲，偏有一個彈琴的湊了來，即如《西廂記》的《聽琴》，《玉簪記》的《琴挑》，《續琵琶》的《 鬍茄十八拍》，竟成了真的了，比這個更如何？"衆人都道：“這更難得了。”賈母便命個媳婦來，吩咐文官等叫他們吹一套《燈月圓》。媳婦領命而去。
當下賈蓉夫妻二人捧酒一巡，鳳姐兒因見賈母十分高興，便笑道：“趁着女先兒們在這裏，不如叫他們擊鼓，咱們傳梅盧梭（JeanJacquesRousseau，1712—1778）法國啓蒙思，行一個’春喜上眉梢’的令如何？"賈母笑道：“這是個好令， 正對時對景。”忙命人取了一面黑漆銅釘花腔令鼓來，與女先兒們擊着，席上取了一枝紅梅。 賈母笑道：“若到誰手裏住了，吃一杯，也要說個什麽纔好。”鳳姐兒笑道：“依我說，誰象老祖宗要什麽有什麽呢。我們這不會的，豈不沒意思。依我說也要雅俗共賞， 不如誰輸了誰說個笑話罷。”衆人聽了，都知道他素日善說笑話，最是他肚內有無限的新鮮趣談。 今兒如此說，不但在席的諸人喜歡，連地下伏侍的老小人等無不喜歡。 那小丫頭子們都忙出去，找姐喚妹的告訴他們：“快來聽，二奶奶又說笑話兒了。 "衆丫頭子們便擠了一屋子。於是戲完樂罷。賈母命將些湯點果菜與文官等吃去，便命響鼓。 那女先兒們皆是慣的，或緊或慢，或如殘漏之滴，或如迸豆之疾，或如驚馬之亂馳，或如疾電之光而忽暗。其鼓聲慢，傳梅亦慢，鼓聲疾，傳梅亦疾。恰恰至賈母手中，鼓聲忽住。大傢呵呵一笑，賈蓉忙上來斟了一杯。衆人都笑道：“自然老太太先喜了，我們纔托賴些喜。”賈母笑道：“這酒也罷了，衹是這笑話倒有些個難說。”衆人都說：“老太太的比鳳姐兒的還好還多， 賞一個我們也笑一笑兒。”賈母笑道：“並沒什麽新鮮發笑的，少不得老臉皮子厚的說一個罷了。”因說道：“一傢子養了十個兒子，娶了十房媳婦。 惟有第十個媳婦伶俐，心巧嘴乖，公婆最疼，成日傢說那九個不孝順。這九個媳婦委屈，便商議說：‘咱們九個心裏孝順，衹是不象那小蹄子嘴巧，所以公公婆婆老了，衹說他好， 這委屈嚮誰訴去？’大媳婦有主意，便說道：’咱們明兒到閻王廟去燒香，和閻王爺說去，問他一問，叫我們托生人，為什麽單單的給那小蹄子一張乖嘴，我們都是笨的。 ’衆人聽了都喜歡，說這主意不錯。第二日便都到閻王廟裏來燒了香，九個人都在供桌底下睡着了。 九個魂專等閻王駕到，左等不來，右等也不到。正着急，衹見孫行者駕着筋鬥雲來了， 看見九個魂便要拿金箍棒打，唬得九個魂忙跪下央求。孫行者問原故，九個人忙細細的告訴了他。孫行者聽了，把腳一跺，嘆了一口氣道：’這原故幸虧遇見我，等着閻王來了，他也不得知道的。’九個人聽了，就求說：’大聖發個慈悲，我們就好了。’孫行者笑道：’這卻不難。那日你們妯娌十個托生時，可巧我到閻王那裏去的， 因為撒了泡尿在地下，你那小嬸子便吃了。你們如今要伶俐嘴乖，有的是尿，再撒泡你們吃了就是了。”說畢，大傢都笑起來。鳳姐兒笑道：“好的，幸而我們都笨嘴笨腮的，不然也就吃了猴兒尿了。 "尤氏婁氏都笑嚮李紈道：“咱們這裏誰是吃過猴兒尿的，別裝沒事人兒。”薛姨媽笑道：“笑話兒不在好歹，衹要對景就發笑。”說着又擊起鼓來。小丫頭子們衹要聽鳳姐兒的笑話，便悄悄的和女先兒說明，以咳嗽為記。須臾傳至兩遍，剛到了鳳姐兒手裏， 小丫頭子們故意咳嗽，女先兒便住了。衆人齊笑道：“這可拿住他了。 快吃了酒說一個好的，別太逗的人笑的腸子疼。”鳳姐兒想了一想，笑道：“一傢子也是過正月半， 閤家賞燈吃酒，真真的熱鬧非常，祖婆婆，太婆婆，婆婆，媳婦，孫子媳婦，重孫子媳婦，親孫子，侄孫子，重孫子，灰孫子，滴滴搭搭的孫子，孫女兒，外孫女兒，姨表孫女兒，姑表孫女兒，……噯喲喲，真好熱鬧！"衆人聽他說着，已經笑了，都說：“聽數貧嘴，又不知編派那一個呢。”尤氏笑道：“你要招我，我可撕你的嘴。”鳳姐兒起身拍手笑道：“人傢費力說，你們混，我就不說了。”賈母笑道：“你說你說，底下怎麽樣？"鳳姐兒想了一想，笑道：“底下就團團的坐了一屋子，吃了一夜酒就散了。”衆人見他正言厲色的說了， 別無他話，都怔怔的還等下話，衹覺冰冷無味。史湘雲看了他半日。鳳姐兒笑道：“再說一個過正月半的。幾個人擡着個房子大的炮仗往城外放去，引了上萬的人跟着瞧去。有一個性急的人等不得，便偷着拿香點着了。衹聽’噗哧’一聲，衆人哄然一笑都散了。這擡炮仗的人抱怨賣炮仗的П的不結實，沒等放就散了。”湘雲道：“難道他本人沒聽見響？"鳳姐兒道：“這本人原是聾子。”衆人聽說，一回想，不覺一齊失聲都大笑起來。 又想着先前那一個沒完的，問他：“先一個怎麽樣？也該說完。”鳳姐兒將桌子一拍，說道：“好羅唆，到了第二日是十六日，年也完了，節也完了，我看着人忙着收東西還鬧不清，那裏還知道底下的事了。”衆人聽說，復又笑將起來。鳳姐兒笑道：“外頭已經四更，依我說，老祖宗也乏了，咱們也該’聾子放炮仗——散了’罷。”尤氏等用手帕子握着嘴，笑的前仰後合，指他說道：“這個東西真會數貧嘴。”賈母笑道：“真真這鳳丫頭越發貧嘴了。”一面說，一面吩咐道：“他提炮仗來，咱們也把煙火放瞭解解酒。”
賈蓉聽了， 忙出去帶着小廝們就在院內安下屏架，將煙火設吊齊備。這煙火皆係各處進貢之物，雖不甚大，卻極精巧，各色故事俱全，夾着各色花炮。林黛玉稟氣柔弱，不禁畢駁之聲， 賈母便摟他在懷中。薛姨媽摟着湘雲。湘雲笑道：“我不怕。”寶釵等笑道：“他專愛自己放大炮仗，還怕這個呢。”王夫人便將寶玉摟入懷內。鳳姐兒笑道：“我們是沒有人疼的了。”尤氏笑道：“有我呢，我摟着你。也不怕鱢，你這孩子又撒嬌了，聽見放炮仗， 吃了蜜蜂兒屎的，今兒又輕逛起來。”鳳姐兒笑道：“等散了，咱們園子裏放去。 我比小廝們還放的好呢。”說話之間，外面一色一色的放了又放，又有許多的滿天星，九竜入雲，一聲雷，飛天十響之類的零碎小爆竹。放罷，然後又命小戲子打了一回"蓮花落"，撒了滿臺錢，命那孩子們滿臺搶錢取樂。又上湯時，賈母說道：“夜長，覺的有些餓了。”鳳姐兒忙回說：“有預備的鴨子肉粥。”賈母道：“我吃些清淡的罷。”鳳姐兒忙道：“也有棗兒熬的粳米粥，預備太太們吃齋的。”賈母笑道：“不是油膩膩的就是甜的。” 鳳姐兒又忙道：“還有杏仁茶，衹怕也甜。”賈母道：“倒是這個還罷了。”說着，又命人撤去殘席，外面另設上各種精緻小菜。大傢隨便隨意吃了些，用過漱口茶，方散。
十七日一早， 又過寧府行禮，伺候掩了宗祠，收過影像，方回來。此日便是薛姨媽傢請吃年酒。十八日便是賴大傢，十九日便是寧府賴升傢，二十日便是林之孝傢，二十一日便是單大良傢，二十二日便是吳新登傢。這幾傢，賈母也有去的，也有不去的，也有高興直待衆人散了方回的，也有興盡半日一時就來的。凡諸親友來請或來赴席的，賈母一概怕拘束不會，自有邢夫人，王夫人，鳳姐兒三人料理。連寶玉衹除王子騰傢去了， 餘者亦皆不會，衹說賈母留下解悶。所以倒是傢下人傢來請，賈母可以自便之處，方高興去逛逛。閑言不提，且說當下元宵已過___
Dowager lady Chia, nee Shih, does away with rotten old customs. Wang Hsi-feng imitates in jest (the dutiful son), by getting herself up in gaudy theatrical clothes.
Chia Chen and Chia Lien had, we will now explain, secretly got ready large baskets of cash, so the moment they heard old lady Chia utter the word 'tip,' they promptly bade the pages be quick and fling the money. The noise of the cash, running on every side of the stage, was all that fell on the ear. Dowager lady Chia thoroughly enjoyed it.
The two men then rose to their feet. The pages hastened to lay hold of a silver kettle, newly brought in with fresh wine, and to deposit it in Chia Lien's hands, who followed Chia Chen with quick step into the inner rooms. Chia Chen advanced first up to 'sister-in-law' Li's table, and curtseying, he raised her cup, and turned round, whereupon Chia Lien quickly filled it to the brim. Next they approached Mrs. Hsueeh's table, and they also replenished her cup.
These two ladies lost no time in standing up, and smilingly expostulating. "Gentlemen," they said, "please take your seats. What's the use of standing on such ceremonies?"
But presently every one, with the exception of the two ladies Mesdames Hsing and Wang, quitted the banquet and dropping their arms against their bodies they stood on one side. Chia Chen and his companion then drew near dowager lady Chia's couch. But the couch was so low that they had to stoop on their knees. Chia Chen was in front, and presented the cup. Chia Lien was behind, and held the kettle up to her. But notwithstanding that only these two offered her wine, Chia Tsung and the other young men followed them closely in the order of their age and grade; so the moment they saw them kneel, they immediately threw themselves on their knees. Pao-yue too prostrated himself at once.
Hsiang-yuen stealthily gave him a push. "What's the use of your now following their lead again and falling on your knees?" she said. "But since you behave like this, wouldn't it be well if you also went and poured wine all round?"
Pao-yue laughed. "Hold on a bit," he rejoined in a low tone, "and I'll go and do so."
So speaking, he waited until his two relatives had finished pouring the wine and risen to their feet, when he also went and replenished the cups of Mesdames Wang and Hsing.
"What about the young ladies?" Chia Chen smilingly asked.
"You people had better be going," old lady Chia and the other ladies unanimously observed. "They'll, then, be more at their ease."
At this hint Chia Chen and his companions eventually withdrew. The second watch had not, at the time, yet gone. The play that was being sung was: 'The eight worthies look at the lanterns,' consisting of eight acts; and had now reached a sensational part.
Pao-yue at this stage left the feast and was going out. "Where are you off to?" inquired his grandmother Chia. "The crackers outside are dreadful. Mind, the lighted pieces of paper falling from above might burn you."
Pao-yue smiled. "I'm not going far," he answered. "I'm merely going out of the room, and will be back at once."
Dowager lady Chia directed the matrons to "be careful and escort him."
Pao-yue forthwith sallied out; with no other attendants however than She Yueeh, Ch'iu Wen and several youthful maids.
"How is it," his grandmother Chia felt obliged so ask, "that I don't see anything of Hsi Jen? Is she too now putting on high and mighty airs that she only sends these juvenile girls here?"
Madame Wang rose to her feet with all haste. "Her mother," she explained, "died the other day; so being in deep mourning, she couldn't very well present herself."
Dowager lady Chia nodded her head assentingly. "When one is in service," she smilingly remarked, "there should be no question of mourning or no mourning. Is it likely that, if she were still in my pay, she wouldn't at present be here? All these practices have quite become precedents!"
Lady Feng crossed over to her. "Had she even not been in mourning to-night," she chimed in with a laugh, "she would have had to be in the garden and keep an eye over that pile of lanterns, candles, and fireworks, as they're most dangerous things. For as soon as any theatricals are set on foot in here, who doesn't surreptitiously sneak out from the garden to have a look? But as far as she goes, she's diligent, and careful of every place. Moreover, when the company disperses and brother Pao-yue retires to sleep, everything will be in perfect readiness. But, had she also come, that bevy of servants wouldn't again have cared a straw for anything; and on his return, after the party, the bedding would have been cold, the tea-water wouldn't have been ready, and he would have had to put up with every sort of discomfort. That's why I told her that there was no need for her to come. But should you, dear senior, wish her here, I'll send for her straightway and have done."
Old lady Chia lent an ear to her arguments. "What you say," she promptly put in, "is perfectly right. You've made better arrangements than I could. Quick, don't send for her! But when did her mother die? How is it I know nothing about it?"
"Some time ago," lady Feng laughed, "Hsi Jen came in person and told you, worthy ancestor, and how is it you've forgotten it?"
"Yes," resumed dowager lady Chia smiling, after some reflection, "I remember now. My memory is really not of the best."
At this, everybody gave way to laughter. "How could your venerable ladyship," they said, "recollect so many matters?"
Dowager lady Chia thereupon heaved a sigh. "How I remember," she added, "the way she served me ever since her youth up; and how she waited upon Yuen Erh also; how at last she was given to that prince of devils, and how she has slaved away with that imp for the last few years. She is, besides, not a slave-girl, born or bred in the place. Nor has she ever received any great benefits from our hands. When her mother died, I meant to have given her several taels for her burial; but it quite slipped from my mind."
"The other day," lady Feng remarked, "Madame Wang presented her with forty taels; so that was all right."
At these words, old lady Chia nodded assent. "Yes, never mind about that," she observed. "Yuan Yang's mother also died, as it happens, the other day; but taking into consideration that both her parents lived in the south, I didn't let her return home to observe a period of mourning. But as both these girls are now in mourning, why not allow them to live together? They'll thus be able to keep each other company. Take a few fruits, eatables, and other such things," continuing she bade a matron, "and give them to those two girls to eat."
"Would she likely wait until now?" Hu Po laughingly interposed. "Why, she joined (Hsi Jen) long ago."
In the course of this conversation, the various inmates partook of some more wine, and watched the theatricals.
But we will now turn our attention to Pao-yue. He made his way straight into the garden. The matrons saw well enough that he was returning to his rooms, but instead of following him in, they ensconced themselves near the fire in the tea-room situated by the garden-gate, and made the best of the time by drinking and playing cards with the girls in charge of the tea. Pao-yue entered the court. The lanterns burnt brightly, yet not a human voice was audible. "Have they all, forsooth, gone to sleep?" She Yueeh ventured. "Let's walk in gently, and give them a fright!"
Presently, they stepped, on tiptoe, past the mirrored partition-wall. At a glance, they discerned Hsi Jen lying on the stove-couch, face to face with some other girl. On the opposite side sat two or three old nurses nodding, half asleep. Pao-yue conjectured that both the girls were plunged in sleep, and was just about to enter, when of a sudden some one was heard to heave a sigh and to say: "How evident it is that worldly matters are very uncertain! Here you lived all alone in here, while your father and mother tarried abroad, and roamed year after year from east to west, without any fixed place of abode. I ever thought that you wouldn't have been able to be with them at their last moments; but, as it happened, (your mother) died in this place this year, and you could, after all, stand by her to the end."
"Quite so!" rejoined Hsi Jen. "Even I little expected to be able to see any of my parents' funeral. When I broke the news to our Madame Wang, she also gave me forty taels. This was really a kind attention on her part. I hadn't nevertheless presumed to indulge in any vain hopes."
Pao-yue overheard what was said. Hastily twisting himself round, he remarked in a low voice, addressing himself to She Yueeh and her companions: "Who would have fancied her also in here? But were I to enter, she'll bolt away in another tantrum! Better then that we should retrace our steps, and let them quietly have a chat together, eh? Hsi Jen was alone, and down in the mouth, so it's a fortunate thing that she joined her in such good time."
As he spoke, they once more walked out of the court with gentle tread. Pao-yue went to the back of the rockery, and stopping short, he raised his clothes. She Yueeh and Ch'iu Wen stood still, and turned their faces away. "Stoop," they smiled, "and then loosen your clothes! Be careful that the wind doesn't blow on your stomach!"
The two young maids, who followed behind, surmised that he was bent upon satisfying a natural want, and they hurried ahead to the tea-room to prepare the water.
Just, however, as Pao-yue was crossing over, two married women came in sight, advancing from the opposite direction. "Who's there?" they inquired.
"Pao-yue is here," Ch'ing Wen answered. "But mind, if you bawl and shout like that, you'll give him a start."
The women promptly laughed. "We had no idea," they said, "that we were coming, at a great festive time like this, to bring trouble upon ourselves! What a lot of hard work must day after day fall to your share, young ladies."
Speaking the while, they drew near. She Yueeh and her friends then asked them what they were holding in their hands.
"We're taking over," they replied, "some things to the two girls: Miss Chin and Miss Hua."
"They're still singing the 'Eight Worthies' outside," She Yueeh went on to observe laughingly, "and how is it you're running again to Miss Chin's and Miss Hua's before the 'Trouble-first moon-box' has been gone through?"
"Take the lid off," Pao-yue cried, "and let me see what there's inside."
Ch'in Wen and She Yueeh at once approached and uncovered the boxes. The two women promptly stooped, which enabled Pao-yue to see that the contents of the two boxes consisted alike of some of the finest fruits and tea-cakes, which had figured at the banquet, and, nodding his head, he walked off, while She Yueeh and her friend speedily threw the lids down anyhow, and followed in his track.
"Those two dames are pleasant enough," Pao-yue smiled, "and they know how to speak decently; but it's they who get quite worn out every day, and they contrariwise say that you've got ample to do daily. Now, doesn't this amount to bragging and boasting?"
"Those two women," She Yueeh chimed in, "are not bad. But such of them as don't know what good manners mean are ignorant to a degree of all propriety."
"You, who know what's what," Pao-yue added, "should make allowances for that kind of rustic people. You should pity them; that's all."
Speaking, he made his exit out of the garden gate. The matrons had, though engaged in drinking and gambling, kept incessantly stepping out of doors to furtively keep an eye on his movements, so that the moment they perceived Pao-yue appear, they followed him in a body. On their arrival in the covered passage of the reception-hall, they espied two young waiting-maids; the one with a small basin in her hand; the other with a towel thrown over her arm. They also held a bowl and small kettle, and had been waiting in that passage for ever so long.
Ch'iu Wen was the first to hastily stretch out her hand and test the water. "The older you grow," she cried, "the denser you get! How could one ever use this icy-cold water?"
"Miss, look at the weather!" the young maid replied. "I was afraid the water would get cold. It was really scalding; is it cold now?"
While she made this rejoinder, an old matron was, by a strange coincidence, seen coming along, carrying a jug of hot water. "Dear dame," shouted the young maid, "come over and pour some for me in here!"
"My dear girl," the matron responded, "this is for our old mistress to brew tea with. I'll tell you what; you'd better go and fetch some yourself. Are you perchance afraid lest your feet might grow bigger by walking?"
"I don't care whose it is," Ch'iu Wen put in. "If you don't give me any, I shall certainly empty our old lady's teapot and wash my hands."
The old matron turned her head; and, catching sight of Ch'iu Wen, she there and then raised the jug and poured some of the water.
"That will do!" exclaimed Ch'iu Wen. "With all your years, don't you yet know what's what? Who isn't aware that it's for our old mistress? But would one presume to ask for what shouldn't be asked for?"
"My eyes are so dim," the matron rejoined with a smile, "that I didn't recognise this young lady."
When Pao-yue had washed his hands, the young maid took the small jug and filled the bowl; and, as she held it in her hand, Pao-yue rinsed his mouth. But Ch'iu Wen and She Yueeh availed themselves likewise of the warm water to have a wash; after which, they followed Pao-yue in.
Pao-yue at once asked for a kettle of warm wine, and, starting from sister-in-law Li, he began to replenish their cups. (Sister-in-law Li and his aunt Hsueeh) pressed him, however, with smiling faces, to take a seat; but his grandmother Chia remonstrated. "He's only a youngster," she said, "so let him pour the wine! We must all drain this cup!"
With these words, she quaffed her own cup, leaving no heel-taps. Mesdames Hsing and Wang also lost no time in emptying theirs; so Mrs. Hsueeh and 'sister-in-law' Li had no alternative but to drain their share.
"Fill the cups too of your female cousins, senior or junior," dowager lady Chia went on to tell Pao-yue. "And you mayn't pour the wine anyhow. Each of you must swallow every drop of your drinks."
Pao-yue upon hearing her wishes, set to work, while signifying his assent, to replenish the cups of the several young ladies in their proper gradation. But when he got to Tai-yue, she raised the cup, for she would not drink any wine herself, and applied it to Pao-yue's lips. Pao-yue drained the contents with one breath; upon which Tai-yue gave him a smile, and said to him: "I am much obliged to you."
Pao-yue next poured a cup for her. But lady Feng immediately laughed and expostulated. "Pao-yue!" she cried, "you mustn't take any cold wine. Mind, your hand will tremble, and you won't be able to-morrow to write your characters or to draw the bow."
"I'm not having any cold wine," Pao-yue replied.
"I know you're not," lady Feng smiled, "but I simply warn you."
After this, Pao-yue finished helping the rest of the inmates inside, with the exception of Chia Jung's wife, for whom he bade a maid fill a cup. Then emerging again into the covered passage, he replenished the cups of Chia Chen and his companions; after which, he tarried with them for a while, and at last walked in and resumed his former seat.
Presently, the soup was brought, and soon after that the 'feast of lanterns' cakes were handed round.
Dowager lady Chia gave orders that the play should be interrupted for a time. "Those young people," (she said) "are be to pitied! Let them too have some hot soup and warm viands. They then can go on again. Take of every kind of fruit," she continued, "'feast of lanterns' cakes, and other such dainties and give them a few."
The play was shortly stopped. The matrons ushered in a couple of blind singing-girls, who often came to the house, and put two benches, on the opposite side, for them. Old lady Chia desired them to take a seat, and banjos and guitars were then handed to them.
"What stories would you like to hear?" old lady Chia inquired of 'sister-in-law' Li and Mrs. Hsueeh.
"We don't care what they are;" both of them rejoined with one voice. "Any will do!"
"Have you of late added any new stories to your stock?" old lady Chia asked.
"We've got a new story," the two girls explained. "It's about an old affair of the time of the Five Dynasties, which trod down the T'ang dynasty."
"What's its title?" old lady Chia inquired.
"It's called: 'A Feng seeks a Luan in marriage': (the male phoenix asks the female phoenix in marriage)," one of the girls answered.
"The title is all very well," dowager lady Chia proceeded, "but why I wonder was it ever given to it. First tell us its general purport, and if it's interesting, you can continue."
"This story," the girl explained, "treats of the time when the T'ang dynasty was extinguished. There lived then one of the gentry, who had originally been a denizen of Chin Ling. His name was Wang Chun. He had been minister under two reigns. He had, about this time, pleaded old age and returned to his home. He had about his knees only one son, called Wang Hsi-feng."
When the company heard so far, they began to laugh.
"Now isn't this a duplicate of our girl Feng's name?" old lady Chia laughingly exclaimed.
A married woman hurried up and pushed (the girl). "That's the name of your lady Secunda," she said, "so don't use it quite so heedlessly!"
"Go on with your story!" dowager lady Chia shouted.
The girl speedily stood up, smiling the while. "We do deserve death!" she observed. "We weren't aware that it was our lady's worthy name."
"Why should you be in such fear and trembling?" lady Feng laughed. "Go on! There are many duplicate names and duplicate surnames."
The girl then proceeded with her story. "In a certain year," she resumed, "his honour old Mr. Wang saw his son Mr. Wang off for the capital to be in time for the examinations. One day, he was overtaken by a heavy shower of rain and he betook himself into a village for shelter. Who'd have thought it, there lived in this village, one of the gentry, of the name of Li, who had been an old friend of his honour old Mr. Wang, and he kept Mr. Wang junior to put up in his library. This Mr. Li had no son, but only a daughter. This young daughter's worthy name was Ch'u Luan. She could perform on the lute; she could play chess; and she had a knowledge of books and of painting. There was nothing that she did not understand."
Old lady Chia eagerly chimed in. "It's no wonder," she said, "that the story has been called: 'A Feng seeks a Luan in marriage,' '(a male phoenix seeks a female phoenix in marriage).' But you needn't proceed. I've already guessed the denouement. There's no doubt that Wang Hsi-feng asks for the hand of this Miss Ch'u Luan."
"Your venerable ladyship must really have heard the story before," the singing-girl smiled.
"What hasn't our worthy senior heard?" they all exclaimed. "But she's quick enough in guessing even unheard of things."
"All these stories run invariably in one line," old lady Chia laughingly rejoined. "They're all about pretty girls and scholars. There's no fun in them. They abuse people's daughters in every possible way, and then they still term them nice pretty girls. They're so concocted that there's not even a semblance of truth in them. From the very first, they canvass the families of the gentry. If the paterfamilias isn't a president of a board; then he's made a minister. The heroine is bound to be as lovable as a gem. This young lady is sure to understand all about letters, and propriety. She knows every thing and is, in a word, a peerless beauty. At the sight of a handsome young man, she pays no heed as to whether he be relation or friend, but begins to entertain thoughts of the primary affair of her life, and forgets her parents and sets her books on one side. She behaves as neither devil nor thief would: so in what respect does she resemble a nice pretty girl? Were even her brain full of learning, she couldn't be accounted a nice pretty girl, after behaving in this manner! Just like a young fellow, whose mind is well stored with book-lore, and who goes and plays the robber! Now is it likely that the imperial laws would look upon him as a man of parts, and that they wouldn't bring against him some charge of robbery? From this it's evident that those, who fabricate these stories, contradict themselves. Besides, they may, it's true, say that the heroines belong to great families of official and literary status, that they're conversant with propriety and learning and that their honourable mothers too understand books and good manners, but great households like theirs must, in spite of the parents having pleaded old age and returned to their natives places, contain a great number of inmates; and the nurses, maids and attendants on these young ladies must also be many; and how is it then that, whenever these stories make reference to such matters, one only hears of young ladies with but a single close attendant? What can, think for yourselves, all the other people be up to? Indeed, what is said before doesn't accord with what comes afterwards. Isn't it so, eh?"
The party listened to her with much glee. "These criticisms of yours, venerable ancestor," they said, "have laid bare every single discrepancy."
"They have however their reasons," old lady Chia smilingly resumed. "Among the writers of these stories, there are some, who begrudge people's wealth and honours, or possibly those, who having solicited a favour (of the wealthy and honorable), and not obtained the object, upon which their wishes were set, have fabricated lies in order to disparage people. There is moreover a certain class of persons, who become so corrupted by the perusal of such tales that they are not satisfied until they themselves pounce upon some nice pretty girl. Hence is it that, for fun's sake, they devise all these yarns. But how could such as they ever know the principle which prevails in official and literary families? Not to speak of the various official and literary families spoken about in these anecdotes, take now our own immediate case as an instance. We're only such a middle class household, and yet we've got none of those occurrences; so don't let her go on spinning these endless yarns. We must on no account have any of these stories told us! Why, even the maids themselves don't understand any of this sort of language. I've been getting so old the last few years, that I felt unawares quite melancholy whenever the girls went to live far off, so my wont has been to have a few passages recounted to me; but as soon as they got back, I at once put a stop to these things."
'Sister-in-law' Li and Mrs. Hsueeh both laughed. "This is just the rule," they said, "which should exist in great families. Not even in our homes is any of this confused talk allowed to reach the ears of the young people."
Lady Feng came forward and poured some wine. "Enough, that will do!" she laughed. "The wine has got quite cold. My dear ancestor, do take a sip and moisten your throat with, before you begin again to dilate on falsehoods. What we've been having now can well be termed 'Record of a discussion on falsehoods.' It has had its origin in this reign, in this place, in this year, in this moon, on this day and at this very season. But, venerable senior, you've only got one mouth, so you couldn't very well simultaneously speak of two families. 'When two flowers open together,' the proverb says, 'one person can only speak of one.' But whether the stones be true or fictitious, don't let us say anything more about them. Let's have the footlights put in order, and look at the players. Dear senior, do let these two relatives have a glass of wine and see a couple of plays; and you can then start arguing about one dynasty after another. Eh, what do you say?"
Saying this, she poured the wine, laughing the while. But she had scarcely done speaking before the whole company were convulsed with laughter. The two singing girls were themselves unable to keep their countenance.
"Lady Secunda," they both exclaimed, "what a sharp tongue you have! Were your ladyship to take to story-telling, we really would have nowhere to earn our rice."
"Don't be in such overflowing spirits," Mrs. Hsueeh laughed. "There are people outside; this isn't like any ordinary occasion."
"There's only my senior brother-in-law Chen outside," lady Feng smiled. "And we've been like brother and sister from our youth up. We've romped and been up to every mischief to this age together. But all on account of my marriage, I've had of late years to stand on ever so many ceremonies. Why besides being like brother and sister from the time we were small kids, he's anyhow my senior brother-in-law, and I his junior sister-in-law. (One among) those twenty four dutiful sons, travestied himself in theatrical costume (to amuse his parents), but those fellows haven't sufficient spirit to come in some stage togs and try and make you have a laugh, dear ancestor. I've however succeeded, after ever so much exertion, in so diverting you as to induce you to eat a little more than you would, and in putting everybody in good humour; and I should be thanked by one and all of you; it's only right that I should. But can it be that you will, on the contrary, poke fun at me?"
"I've truly not had a hearty laugh the last few days," old lady Chia smiled, "but thanks to the funny things she recounted just now, I've managed to get in somewhat better spirits in here. So I'll have another cup of wine." Then having drunk her wine, "Pao-yue," she went on to say, "come and present a cup to your sister-in-law!"
Lady Feng gave a smile. "There's no use for him to give me any wine," she ventured. "(I'll drink out of your cup,) so as to bring upon myself your longevity, venerable ancestor."
While uttering this response, she raised dowager lady Chia's cup to her lips, and drained the remaining half of the contents; after which, she handed the cup to a waiting-maid, who took one from those which had been rinsed with tepid water, and brought it to her. But in due course, the cups from the various tables were cleared, and clean ones, washed in warm water, were substituted; and when fresh wine had been served round, (lady Feng and the maid) resumed their seats.
"Venerable lady," a singing-girl put in, "you don't like the stories we tell; but may we thrum a song for you?"
"You two," remarked old lady Chia, "had better play a duet of the 'Chiang Chuen ling' song: 'the general's command.'"
Hearing her wishes, the two girls promptly tuned their cords, to suit the pitch of the song, and struck up on their guitars.
"What watch of the night is it?" old lady Chia at this point inquired.
"It's the third watch," the matrons replied with alacrity.
"No wonder it has got so chilly and damp!" old lady Chia added.
Extra clothes were accordingly soon fetched by the servants and maids.
Madame Wang speedily rose to her feet and forced a smile. "Venerable senior," she said, "wouldn't it be prudent for you to move on to the stove couch in the winter apartments? It would be as well. These two relatives are no strangers. And if we entertain them, it will he all right."
"Well, in that case," dowager lady Chia smilingly rejoined, "why shouldn't the whole company adjourn inside? Wouldn't it be warmer for us all?"
"I'm afraid there isn't enough sitting room for every one of us," Madame Wang explained.
"I've got a plan," old lady Chia added. "We can now dispense with these tables. All we need are two or three, placed side by side; we can then sit in a group, and by bundling together it will be both sociable as well as warm."
"Yes, this will be nice!" one and all cried.
Assenting, they forthwith rose from table. The married women hastened to remove the debandade of the banquet. Then placing three large tables lengthways side by side in the inner rooms, they went on to properly arrange the fruits and viands, some of which had been replenished, others changed.
"You must none of you stand on any ceremonies!" dowager lady Chia observed. "If you just listen while I allot you your places, and sit down accordingly, it will be all right!"
Continuing, she motioned to Mrs. Hsueeh and 'sister-in-law' Li to take the upper seats on the side of honour, and, making herself comfortable on the west, she bade the three cousins Pao-ch'in, Tai-yue and Hsian-yuen sit close to her on the left and on the right. "Pao-yue," she proceeded "you must go next to your mother." So presently she put Pao-yue, and Pao-ch'ai and the rest of the young ladies between Mesdames Hsing and Wang. On the west, she placed, in proper gradation, dame Lou, along with Chia Lan, and Mrs. Yu and Li Wan, with Chia Lan, (number two,) between them. While she assigned a chair to Chia Jung's wife among the lower seats, put crosswise. "Brother Chen," old lady Chia cried, "take your cousins and be off! I'm also going to sleep in a little time."
Chia Chen and his associates speedily expressed their obedience, and made, in a body, their appearance inside again to listen to any injunctions she might have to give them.
"Bundle yourself away at once!" shouted dowager lady Chia. "You needn't come in. We've just sat down, and you'll make us get up again. Go and rest; be quick! To-morrow, there are to be some more grand doings!" Chia Chen assented with alacrity. "But Jung Erh should remain to replenish the cups," he smiled; "it's only fair that he should."
"Quite so!" answered old lady Chia laughingly. "I forgot all about him."
"Yes!" acquiesced Chia Chen. Then twisting himself round, he led Chia Lien and his companions out of the apartment.
(Chia Chen and Chia Lien) were, of course, both pleased at being able to get away. So bidding the servants see Chia Tsung and Chia Huang to their respective homes, (Chia Chen) arranged with Chia Lien to go in pursuit of pleasure and in quest of fun. But we will now leave them to their own devices without another word.
"I was just thinking," meanwhile dowager lady Chia laughed, "that it would be well, although you people are numerous enough to enjoy yourselves, to have a couple of great-grandchildren present at this banquet, so Jung Erh now makes the full complement. But Jung Erh sit near your wife, for she and you will then make the pair complete."
The wife of a domestic thereupon presented a play-bill.
"We, ladies," old lady Chia demurred, "are now chatting in high glee, and are about to start a romp. Those young folks have, also, been sitting up so far into the night that they must be quite cold, so let the plays alone. Tell them then to have a rest. Yet call our own girls to come and sing a couple of plays on this stage. They too will thus have a chance of watching us a bit."
After lending an ear to her, the married women assented and quitted the room. And immediately finding some servant to go to the garden of Broad Vista and summon the girls, they betook themselves, at the same time, as far as the second gate and called a few pages to wait on them.
The pages went with hurried step to the rooms reserved for the players, and taking with them the various grown-up members of the company, they only left the more youthful behind. Then fetching, in a little time, Wen Kuan and a few other girls, twelve in all, from among the novices in the Pear Fragrance court, they egressed by the corner gate leading out of the covered passage. The matrons took soft bundles in their arms, as their strength was not equal to carrying boxes. And under the conviction that their old mistress would prefer plays of three or five acts, they had put together the necessary theatrical costumes.
After Wen Kuan and the rest of the girls had been introduced into the room by the matrons, they paid their obeisance, and, dropping their arms against their sides, they stood reverentially.
"In this propitious first moon," old lady Chia smiled, "won't your teacher let you come out for a stroll? What are you singing now? The eight acts of the 'Eight worthies' recently sung here were so noisy, that they made my head ache; so you'd better let us have something more quiet. You must however bear in mind that Mrs. Hsueeh and Mrs. Li are both people, who give theatricals, and have heard I don't know how many fine plays. The young ladies here have seen better plays than our own girls; and they have heard more beautiful songs than they. These actresses, you see here now, formed once, despite their youth, part of a company belonging to renowned families, fond of plays; and though mere children, they excel any troupe composed of grown-up persons. So whatever we do, don't let us say anything disparaging about them. But we must now have something new. Tell Fang Kuan to sing us the 'Hsuen Meng' ballad; and let only flutes and Pandean pipes be used. The other instruments can be dispensed with."
"Your venerable ladyship is quite right," Wen Kuan smiled. "Our acting couldn't, certainly, suit the taste of such people as Mrs. Hsueeh, Mrs. Li and the young ladies. Nevertheless, let them merely heed our enunciation, and listen to our voices; that's all."
"Well said!" dowager lady Chia laughed.
'Sister-in-law' Li and Mrs. Hsueeh were filled with delight. "What a sharp girl!" they remarked smilingly. "But do you also try to imitate our old lady by pulling our leg?"
"They're intended to afford us some ready-at-hand recreation," old lady Chia smiled. "Besides, they don't go out to earn money. That's how it is they are not so much up to the times." At the close of this remark, she also desired K'uei Kuan to sing the play: 'Hui Ming sends a letter.' "You needn't," she added, "make your face up. Just sing this couple of plays so as to merely let both those ladies hear a kind of parody of them. But if you spare yourselves the least exertion, I shall be unhappy."
When they heard this, Wen Kuan and her companions left the apartment and promptly apparelled themselves and mounted the stage. First in order, was sung the 'Hsuen Meng;' next, '(Hui Ming) sends a letter;' during which, everybody observed such perfect silence that not so much as the caw of a crow fell on the ear.
"I've verily seen several hundreds of companies," Mrs. Hsueeh smiled, "but never have I come across any that confined themselves to flutes."
"There are some," dowager lady Chia answered. "In fact, in that play acted just now called: 'Love in the western tower at Ch'u Ch'iang,' there's a good deal sung by young actors in unison with the flutes. But lengthy unison pieces of this description are indeed few. This too, however, is purely a matter of taste; there's nothing out of the way about it. When I was of her age," resuming, she pointed at Hsiang-yuen, "her grandfather kept a troupe of young actresses. There was among them one, who played the lute so efficiently that she performed the part when the lute is heard in the 'Hsi Hsiang Chi,' the piece on the lute in the 'Yue Ts'an Chi,' and that in the supplementary 'P'i Pa Chi,' on the Mongol flageolet with the eighteen notes, in every way as if she had been placed in the real circumstances herself. Yea, far better than this!"
"This is still rarer a thing!" the inmates exclaimed.
Old lady Chia then shortly called the married women, and bade them tell Wen Kuan and the other girls to use both wind and string instruments and render the piece; 'At the feast of lanterns, the moon is round.'
The women servants received her orders and went to execute them. Chia Jung and his wife meanwhile passed the wine round.
When lady Feng saw dowager lady Chia in most exuberant spirits, she smiled. "Won't it be nice," she said, "to avail ourselves of the presence of the singing girls to pass plum blossom round and have the game of forfeits: 'Spring-happy eyebrow-corners-go-up,' eh?"
"That's a fine game of forfeits!" Old lady Chia cried, with a smile. "It just suits the time of the year."
Orders were therefore given at once to fetch a forfeit drum, varnished black, and ornamented with designs executed with copper tacks. When brought, it was handed to the singing girls to put on the table and rap on it. A twig of red plum blossom was then obtained. "The one in whose hand it is when the drum stops," dowager lady Chia laughingly proposed, "will have to drink a cup of wine, and to say something or other as well."
"I'll tell you what," lady Feng interposed with a smile. "Who of us can pit herself against you, dear ancestor, who have ever ready at hand whatever you want to say? With the little use we are in this line, won't there be an absolute lack of fun in our contributions? My idea is that it would be nicer were something said that could be appreciated both by the refined as well as the unrefined. So won't it be preferable that the person, in whose hands the twig remains, when the drum stops, should crack some joke or other?"
Every one, who heard her, was fully aware what a good hand she had always been at witty things, and how she, more than any other, had an inexhaustible supply of novel and amusing rules of forfeits, ever stocked in her mind, so her suggestion not only gratified the various inmates of the family seated at the banquet, but even filled the whole posse of servants, both old and young, who stood in attendance below, with intense delight. The young waiting-maids rushed with eagerness in search of the young ladies and told them to come and listen to their lady Secunda, who was on the point again of saying funny things. A whole crowd of servant-girls anxiously pressed inside and crammed the room. In a little time, the theatricals were brought to a close, and the music was stopped. Dowager lady Chia had some soup, fine cakes and fruits handed to Wen Kuan and her companions to regale themselves with, and then gave orders to sound the drum. The singing-girls were both experts, so now they beat fast; and now slow. Either slow like the dripping of the remnants of water in a clepsydra. Or quick, as when beans are being sown. Or with the velocity of the pace of a scared horse, or that of the flash of a swift lightning. The sound of the drum came to a standstill abruptly. The twig of plum blossom had just reached old lady Chia, when by a strange coincidence, the rattle ceased. Every one blurted out into a boisterous fit of laughter. Chia Jung hastily approached and filled a cup. "It's only natural," they laughingly cried, "that you venerable senior, should be the first to get exhilarated; for then, thanks to you, we shall also come in for some measure of good cheer."
"To gulp down this wine is an easy job," dowager lady smiled, "but to crack jokes is somewhat difficult."
"Your jokes, dear ancestor, are even wittier than those of lady Feng," the party shouted, "so favour us with one, and let's have a laugh!"
"I've nothing out of the way to evoke laughter with," old lady Chia smilingly answered. "Yet all that remains for me to do is to thicken the skin of my antiquated phiz and come out with some joke. In a certain family," she consequently went on to narrate, "there were ten sons; these married ten wives. The tenth of these wives was, however, so intelligent, sharp, quick of mind, and glib of tongue, that her father and mother-in-law loved her best of all, and maintained from morning to night that the other nine were not filial. These nine felt much aggrieved and they accordingly took counsel together. 'We nine,' they said, 'are filial enough at heart; the only thing is that that shrew has the gift of the gab. That's why our father and mother-in-law think her so perfect. But to whom can we go and confide our grievance?' One of them was struck with an idea. 'Let's go to-morrow,' she proposed, 'to the temple of the King of Hell and burn incense. We can then tell the King our grudge and ask him how it was that, when he bade us receive life and become human beings, he only conferred a glib tongue on that vixen and that we were only allotted such blunt mouths?' The eight listened to her plan, and were quite enraptured with it. 'This proposal is faultless!' they assented. On the next day, they sped in a body to the temple of the God of Hell, and after burning incense, the nine sisters-in-law slept under the altar, on which their offerings were laid. Their nine spirits waited with the special purpose of seeing the carriage of the King of Hell arrive; but they waited and waited, and yet he did not come. They were just giving way to despair when they espied Sun Hsing-che, (the god of monkeys), advancing on a rolling cloud. He espied the nine spirits, and felt inclined to take a golden rod and beat them. The nine spirits were plunged in terror. Hastily they fell on their knees, and pleaded for mercy."
"'What are you up to?' Sun Hsing-che inquired."
"The nine women, with alacrity, told him all."
"After Sun Hsing-che had listened to their confidences, he stamped his foot and heaved a sigh. 'Is that the case?' he asked. 'Well, it's lucky enough you came across me, for had you waited for the God of Hell, he wouldn't have known anything about it.'"
"At these assurances, the nine women gave way to entreaties. 'Great saint,' they pleaded, 'if you were to display some commiseration, we would be all right.'"
"Sun Hsing-che smiled. 'There's no difficulty in the way,' he observed. 'On the day on which you ten sisters-in-law came to life, I was, as luck would have it, on a visit to the King of Hell's place. So I (saw) him do something on the ground, and the junior sister-of-law of yours lap it up. But if you now wish to become smart and sharp-tongued, the remedy lies in water. If I too were therefore to do something, and you to drink it, the desired effect will be attained.'"
At the close of her story, the company roared with laughter.
"Splendid!" shouted lady Feng. "But luckily we're all slow of tongue and dull of intellect, otherwise, we too must have had the water of monkeys to drink."
"Who among us here," Mrs. Yu and dame Lou smilingly remarked, addressing themselves to Li Wan, "has tasted any monkey's water. So don't sham ignorance of things!"
"A joke must hit the point to be amusing," Mrs. Hsueeh ventured.
But while she spoke, (the girls) began again to beat the drum. The young maids were keen to hear lady Feng's jokes. They therefore explained to the singing girls, in a confidential tone, that a cough would be the given signal (for them to desist). In no time (the blossom) was handed round on both sides. As soon as it came to lady Feng, the young maids purposely gave a cough. The singing-girl at once stopped short. "Now we've caught her!" shouted the party laughingly; "drink your wine, be quick! And mind you tell something nice! But don't make us laugh so heartily as to get stomachaches."
Lady Feng was lost in thought. Presently, she began with a smile. "A certain household," she said, "was celebrating the first moon festival. The entire family was enjoying the sight of the lanterns, and drinking their wine. In real truth unusual excitement prevailed. There were great grandmothers, grandmothers, daughters-in-law, grandsons' wives, great grandsons, granddaughters, granddaughters-in-law, aunts' granddaughters, cousins' granddaughters; and ai-yo-yo, there was verily such a bustle and confusion!"
While minding her story, they laughed. "Listen to all this mean mouth says!" they cried. "We wonder what other ramifications she won't introduce!"
"If you want to bully me," Mrs. Yu smiled, "I'll tear that mouth of yours to pieces."
Lady Feng rose to her feet and clapped her hands.
"One does all one can to rack one's brain," she smiled, "and here you combine to do your utmost to confuse me! Well, if it is so, I won't go on."
"Proceed with your story," old lady Chia exclaimed with a smile. "What comes afterwards?"
Lady Feng thought for a while. "Well, after that," she continued laughingly, "they all sat together and crammed the whole room. They primed themselves with wine throughout the hours of night and then they broke up."
The various inmates noticed in what a serious and sedate manner she narrated her story, and none ventured to pass any further remarks, but waited anxiously for her to go on, when they became aware that she coldly and drily came to a stop.
Shih Hsiang-yuen stared at her for ever so long.
"I'll tell you another," lady Feng laughingly remarked. "At the first moon festival, several persons carried a cracker as large as a room and went out of town to let it off. Over and above ten thousand persons were attracted, and they followed to see the sight. One among them was of an impatient disposition. He could not reconcile himself to wait; so stealthily he snatched a joss-stick and set fire to it. A sound of 'pu-ch'ih' was heard. The whole number of spectators laughed boisterously and withdrew. The persons, who carried the cracker, felt a grudge against the cracker-seller for not having made it tight, (and wondered) how it was that every one had left without hearing it go off."
"Is it likely that the men themselves didn't hear the report?" Hsiang-yuen insinuated.
"Why, the men themselves were deaf," lady Feng rejoined.
After listening to her, they pondered for a while, and then suddenly they laughed aloud in chorus. But remembering that her first story had been left unfinished, they inquired of her: "What was, after all, the issue of the first story? You should conclude that too."
Lady Feng gave a rap on the table with her hand. "How vexatious you are!" she exclaimed. "Well, the next day was the sixteenth; so the festivities of the year were over, and the feast itself was past and gone. I see people busy putting things away, and fussing about still, so how can I make out what will be the end of it all?"
At this, one and all indulged in renewed merriment.
"The fourth watch has long ago been struck outside," lady Feng smilingly said. "From what I can see, our worthy senior is also tired out; and we should, like when the cracker was let off in that story of the deaf people, be bundling ourselves off and finish!"
Mrs. Yu and the rest covered their mouths with their handkerchiefs and laughed. Now they stooped forward; and now they bent backward. And pointing at her, "This thing," they cried, "has really a mean tongue."
Old lady Chia laughed. "Yes," she said, "this vixen Feng has, in real truth, developed a meaner tongue than ever! But she alluded to crackers," she added, "so let's also let off a few fireworks so as to counteract the fumes of the wine."
Chia Jung overheard the suggestion. Hurriedly leaving the room, he took the pages with him, and having a scaffolding erected in the court, they hung up the fireworks, and got everything in perfect readiness. These fireworks were articles of tribute, sent from different states, and were, albeit not large in size, contrived with extreme ingenuity. The representations of various kinds of events of antiquity were perfect, and in them were inserted all sorts of crackers.
Lin Tai-yue was naturally of a weak disposition, so she could not stand the report of any loud intonation. Her grandmother Chia therefore clasped her immediately in her embrace. Mrs. Hsueeh, meanwhile, took Hsiang-yuen in her arms.
"I'm not afraid," smiled Hsiang-yuen.
"Nothing she likes so much as letting off huge crackers," Pao-ch'ai smilingly interposed, "and could she fear this sort of thing?"
Madame Wang, thereupon, laid hold of Pao-yue, and pulled him in her lap.
"We've got no one to care a rap for us," lady Feng laughed.
"I'm here for you," Mrs. Yu rejoined with a laugh. "I'll embrace you. There you're again behaving like a spoilt child. You've heard about crackers, and you comport yourself as if you'd had honey to eat! You're quite frivolous again to-day!"
"Wait till we break up," lady Feng answered laughing, "and we'll go and let some off in our garden. I can fire them far better than any of the young lads!"
While they bandied words, one kind of firework after another was lighted outside, and then later on some more again. Among these figured 'fill-heaven-stars;' 'nine dragons-enter-clouds;' 'over-whole-land-a- crack-of-thunder;' 'fly-up-heavens;' 'sound-ten shots,' and other such small crackers.
The fireworks over, the young actresses were again asked to render the 'Lotus-flowers-fall,' and cash were strewn upon the stage. The young girls bustled all over the boards, snatching cash and capering about.
The soup was next brought. "The night is long," old lady Chia said, "and somehow or other I feel peckish."
"There's some congee," lady Feng promptly remarked, "prepared with duck's meat."
"I'd rather have plain things," dowager lady Chia answered.
"There's also some congee made with non-glutinous rice and powder of dates. It's been cooked for the ladies who fast."
"If there's any of this, it will do very well," old lady Chia replied.
While she spoke, orders were given to remove the remnants of the banquet, and inside as well as outside; were served every kind of _recherche_ small dishes. One and all then partook of some of these refreshments, at their pleasure, and rinsing their mouths with tea, they afterwards parted.
On the seventeenth, they also repaired, at an early hour, to the Ning mansion to present their compliments; and remaining in attendance, while the doors of the ancestral hall were closed and the images put away, they, at length, returned to their quarters.
Invitations had been issued on this occasion to drink the new year wine at Mrs. Hsueeh's residence. But dowager lady Chia had been out on several consecutive days, and so tired out did she feel that she withdrew to her rooms, after only a short stay.
After the eighteenth, relatives and friends arrived and made their formal invitations; or else they came as guests to the banquets given. But so little was old lady Chia in a fit state to turn her mind to anything that the two ladies, Madame Hsing and lady Feng, had to attend between them to everything that cropped up. But Pao-yue as well did not go anywhere else than to Wang Tzu-t'eng's, and the excuse he gave out was that his grandmother kept him at home to dispel her ennui.
We need not, however, dilate on irrelevant details. In due course, the festival of the fifteenth of the first moon passed. But, reader, if you have any curiosity to learn any subsequent events, listen to those given in the chapter below.
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【选集】紅樓一春夢 |
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