中国经典 》 hóng lóu mèng A Dream of Red Mansions 》
dì qī huí sòng gōng huā jiǎ liǎn xì xī fèng yàn níng fǔ bǎo yù huì qín zhōng CHAPTER VII.
cáo xuě qín Cao Xueqin
gāo 'ě Gao E
CHAPTER VII.
huà shuō zhōu ruì jiā de sòng liǎo liú lǎo lǎo qù hòu， biàn shàng lái huí wáng fū rén huà。 shuí zhī wáng fū rén bù zài shàng fáng， wèn yā huán men shí， fāng zhī wǎng xuē yí mā nà biān xián huà qù liǎo。 zhōu ruì jiā de tīng shuō， biàn zhuǎn chū dōng jiǎo mén zhì dōng yuàn， wǎng lí xiāng yuàn lái。 gāng zhì yuàn mén qián， zhǐ jiàn wáng fū rén de yā huán míng jīn chuàn 'ér zhě， hé yī gè cái liú liǎo tóu de xiǎo nǚ hái 'ér zhàn zài tái jiē pō shàng wán。 jiàn zhōu ruì jiā de lái liǎo， biàn zhī yòu huà huí， yīn xiàng nèi nǔ zuǐ 'ér。
zhōu ruì jiā de qīng qīng xiān lián jìn qù， zhǐ jiàn wáng fū rén hé xuē yí mā cháng piān dà tào de shuō xiē jiā wù rén qíng děng yǔ。 zhōu ruì jiā de bù gǎn jīng dòng， suì jìn lǐ jiān lái。 zhǐ jiàn xuē bǎo chāi chuānzhuó jiā cháng yī fú， tóu shàng zhǐ sàn wǎn zhe シ ér， zuò zài kàng lǐ biān， fú zài xiǎo kàng zhuō shàng tóng yā huán yīng 'ér zhèng miáo huā yàng zǐ ní。 jiàn tā jìn lái， bǎo chāi cái fàng xià bǐ， zhuǎn guò shēn lái， mǎn miàn duī xiào ràng： “ zhōu jiě jiě zuò。 ” zhōu ruì jiā de yě máng péi xiào wèn：“ gū niàn hǎo？ " yī miàn kàng yán shàng zuò liǎo， yīn shuō：“ zhè yòu liǎng sān tiān yě méi jiàn gū niàn dào nà biān guàng guàng qù， zhǐ pà shì nǐ bǎo xiōng dì chōng zhuàng liǎo nǐ bù chéng？ " bǎo chāi xiào dào：“ nà lǐ de huà。 zhǐ yīn wǒ nà zhǒng bìng yòu fā liǎo， suǒ yǐ zhè liǎng tiān méi chū wū zǐ。” zhōu ruì jiā de dào：“ zhèng shì ní， gū niàn dào dǐ yòu shénme bìng gēn 'ér， yě gāi chèn zǎo 'ér qǐng gè dà fū lái， hǎo shēng kāi gè fāng zǐ， rèn zhēn chī jǐ jì， yī shì 'ér chú liǎo gēn cái shì。 xiǎo xiǎo de nián jì dǎo zuò xià gè bìng gēn 'ér， yě bù shì wán de。” bǎo chāi tīng liǎo biàn xiào dào：“ zài bù yào tí chī yào。 wéi zhè bìng qǐng dà fū chī yào， yě bù zhī bái huā liǎo duō shǎo yín zǐ qián ní。 píng nǐ shénme míng yī xiān yào， cóng bù jiàn yī diǎn 'ér xiào。 hòu lái hái kuī liǎo yī gè tū tóu hé shàng， shuō zhuān zhì wú míng zhī zhèng， yīn qǐng tā kàn liǎo。 tā shuō wǒ zhè shì cóng tāi lǐ dài lái de yī gǔ rè dú， xìng 'ér xiān tiān zhuàng， hái bù xiāng gān， ruò chī xún cháng yào， shì bù zhōng yòng de。 tā jiù shuō liǎo yī gè hǎi shàng fāng， yòu gěi liǎo yī bāo yào mò zǐ zuò yǐn zǐ， yì xiāng yì qì de。 bù zhī shì nà lǐ nòng liǎo lái de。 tā shuō fā liǎo shí chī yī wán jiù hǎo。 dǎo yě qí guài， chī tā de yào dǎo xiào yàn xiē。”
zhōu ruì jiā de yīn wèn：“ bù zhī shì gè shénme hǎi shàng fāng 'ér？ gū niàn shuō liǎo， wǒ men yě jì zhe， shuō yǔ rén zhī dào， cháng yù jiàn zhè yàng bìng， yě shì xíng hǎo de shì。” bǎo chāi jiàn wèn， nǎi xiào dào：“ bù yòng zhè fāng 'ér hái hǎo， ruò yòng liǎo zhè fāng 'ér， zhēn zhēn bǎ rén suǒ suì sǐ。 dōng xī yào liào yī gài dōuyòu xiàn， zhǐ nán dé ‘ kě qiǎo ’ èr zì： yào chūn tiān kāi de bái mǔ dān huā ruǐ shí 'èr liǎng， xià tiān kāi de bái hé huā ruǐ shí 'èr liǎng， qiū tiān de bái fú róng ruǐ shí 'èr liǎng， dōng tiān de bái méi huā ruǐ shí 'èr liǎng。 jiāng zhè sì yàng huā ruǐ， yú cì nián chūn fēn zhè rì shài gān， hé zài yào mò zǐ yī chù， yī qí yán hǎo。 yòu yào yǔ shuǐ zhè rì de yǔ shuǐ shí 'èr qián， …… " zhōu ruì jiā de máng dào：“ ài yō！ zhè me shuō lái， zhè jiù dé sān nián de gōng fū。 cháng huò yǔ shuǐ zhè rì jìng bù xià yǔ， zhè què zěn chù ní？ " bǎo chāi xiào dào：“ suǒ yǐ shuō nà lǐ yòu zhè yàng kě qiǎo de yǔ， biàn méi yǔ yě zhǐ hǎo zài děng bà liǎo。 bái lù zhè rì de lù shuǐ shí 'èr qián， shuāng jiàng zhè rì de shuāng shí 'èr qián， xiǎo xuě zhè rì de xuě shí 'èr qián。 bǎ zhè sì yàng shuǐ diào yún， hé liǎo yào， zài jiā shí 'èr qián fēng mì， shí 'èr qián bái táng， wán liǎo lóng yǎn dà de wán zǐ， shèng zài jiù cí tán nèi， mái zài huā gēn dǐ xià。 ruò fā liǎo bìng shí， ná chū lái chī yī wán， yòng shí 'èr fēn huángbò jiān tānɡ sòng xià。”
zhōu ruì jiā de tīng liǎo xiào dào：“ ēmítuófó， zhēn kēng sǐ rén de shì 'ér！ děng shí nián wèi bì dū zhè yàng qiǎo de ní。” bǎo chāi dào：“ jìng hǎo， zì tā shuō liǎo qù hòu， yī 'èr nián jiān kě qiǎo dū dé liǎo， hǎo róng yì pèi chéng yī liào。 rú jīn cóng nán dài zhì běi， xiàn zài jiù mái zài lí huā shù dǐ xià ní。” zhōu ruì jiā de yòu wèn dào：“ zhè yào kě yòu míng zǐ méi yòu ní？ " bǎo chāi dào：“ yòu。 zhè yě shì nà là tóu hé shàng shuō xià de， jiào zuò‘ lěng xiāng wán’。” zhōu ruì jiā de tīng liǎo diǎn tóu 'ér， yīn yòu shuō：“ zhè bìng fā liǎo shí dào dǐ jué zěn me zhe？ " bǎo chāi dào：“ yě bù jué shèn zěn me zhe， zhǐ bù guò chuǎn sòu xiē， chī yī wán xià qù yě jiù hǎo xiē liǎo。”
zhōu ruì jiā de hái yù shuō huà shí， hū tīng wáng fū rén wèn：“ shuí zài fáng lǐ ní？ " zhōu ruì jiā de máng chū qù dāyìng liǎo， chèn biàn huí liǎo liú lǎo lǎo zhī shì。 lüè dài bàn kè， jiàn wáng fū rén wú yǔ， fāng yù tuì chū， xuē yí mā hū yòu xiào dào：“ nǐ qiě zhàn zhù。 wǒ yòu yī zōng dōng xī， nǐ dài liǎo qù bà。” shuō zhe biàn jiào xiāng líng。 zhǐ tīng lián lóng xiǎng chù， fāng cái hé jīn chuàn wán de nà gè xiǎo yā tóu jìn lái liǎo， wèn：“ nǎi nǎi jiào wǒ zuò shénme？ " xuē yí mā dào：“ bǎ xiá zǐ lǐ de huā 'ér ná lái。” xiāng líng dāyìng liǎo， xiàng nà biān pěng liǎo gè xiǎo jǐn xiá lái。 xuē yí mā dào：“ zhè shì gōng lǐ tóu de xīn xiān yàng fǎ， ná shā duī de huā 'ér shí 'èr zhī。 zuó 'ér wǒ xiǎng qǐ lái， bái fàng zhe kě xī liǎo 'ér de， hé bù gěi tā men zǐ mèi men dài qù。 zuó 'ér yào sòng qù， piān yòu wàng liǎo。 nǐ jīn 'ér lái de qiǎo， jiù dài liǎo qù bà。 nǐ jiā de sān wèi gū niàn， měi rén yī duì， shèng xià de liù zhī， sòng lín gū niàn liǎng zhī， nà sì zhī gěi liǎo fèng gē bà。” wáng fū rén dào：“ liú zhe gěi bǎo yā tóu dài bà， yòu xiǎng zhe tā men zuò shénme。” xuē yí mā dào：“ yí niàn bù zhī dào， bǎo yā tóu gǔ guài zhe ní， tā cóng lái bù 'ài zhè xiē huā 'ér fěn 'ér de。”
shuō zhe， zhōu ruì jiā de ná liǎo xiá zǐ， zǒu chū fáng mén， jiàn jīn chuàn réng zài nà lǐ shài rì yáng 'ér。 zhōu ruì jiā de yīn wèn tā dào：“ nà xiāng líng xiǎo yā tóu zǐ， kě jiù shì cháng shuō lín shàng jīng shí mǎi de， wèitā dǎ rén mìng guān sī de nà gè xiǎo yā tóu zǐ me？ " jīn chuàn dào：“ kě bù jiù shì tā。” zhèng shuō zhe， zhǐ jiàn xiāng líng xiào xī xī de zǒu lái。 zhōu ruì jiā de biàn lā liǎo tā de shǒu， xì xì de kàn liǎo yī huì， yīn xiàng jīn chuàn 'ér xiào dào：“ dǎo hǎo gè múyàng 'ér， jìng yòu xiē xiàng zán men dōng fǔ lǐ róng dà nǎi nǎi de pǐn gé 'ér。” jīn chuàn 'ér xiào dào：“ wǒ yě shì zhè men shuō ní。” zhōu ruì jiā de yòu wèn xiāng líng：“ nǐ jǐ suì tóu shēn dào zhè lǐ？ " yòu wèn：“ nǐ fù mǔ jīn zài hé chù？ jīn nián shí jǐ suì liǎo？ běn chù shì nà lǐ rén？ " xiāng líng tīng wèn， dū yáo tóu shuō：“ bù jì dé liǎo。” zhōu ruì jiā de hé jīn chuàn 'ér tīng liǎo， dǎo fǎn wéi tàn xī shāng gǎn yī huí。
yī shí jiān zhōu ruì jiā de xié huā zhì wáng fū rén zhèng fáng hòu tóu lái。 yuán lái jìn rì jiǎ mǔ shuō sūn nǚ 'ér men tài duō liǎo， yī chù jǐ zhe dǎo bù fāng biàn， zhǐ liú bǎo yù dài yù 'èr rén zhè biān jiě mèn， què jiāng yíng， tàn， xī sān rén yí dào wáng fū rén zhè biān fáng hòu sān jiān xiǎo bào shà nèi jū zhù， lìng lǐ wán péi bàn zhào guǎn。 rú jīn zhōu ruì jiā de gù shùn lù xiān wǎng zhè lǐ lái， zhǐ jiàn jǐ gè xiǎo yā tóu zǐ dōuzài bào shà nèi tīng hū huàn ní。 yíng chūn de yā huán sī qí yǔ tàn chūn de yā huán dài shū 'èr rén zhèng xiān lián zǐ chū lái， shǒu lǐ dū pěng zhe chá zhōng， zhōu ruì jiā de biàn zhī tā men zǐ mèi zài yī chù zuò zhe ní， suì jìn rù nèi fáng， zhǐ jiàn yíng chūn tàn chūn 'èr rén zhèng zài chuāng xià wéi qí。 zhōu ruì jiā de jiāng huā sòng shàng， shuō míng yuán gù。 èr rén máng zhù liǎo qí， dū qiàn shēn dào xiè， mìng yā huán men shōu liǎo。
zhōu ruì jiā de dāyìng liǎo， yīn shuō：“ sì gū niàn bù zài fáng lǐ， zhǐ pà zài lǎo tài tài nà biān ní。” yā huán men dào：“ nà wū lǐ bù shì sì gū niàn？ " zhōu ruì jiā de tīng liǎo， biàn wǎng zhè biān wū lǐ lái。 zhǐ jiàn xī chūn zhèng tóng shuǐ yuè 'ān de xiǎo gū zǐ zhì néng 'ér yī chù wán shuǎ ní， jiàn zhōu ruì jiā de jìn lái， xī chūn biàn wèn tā hé shì。 zhōu ruì jiā de biàn jiāng huā xiá dǎ kāi， shuō míng yuán gù。 xī chūn xiào dào：“ wǒ zhè lǐ zhèng hé zhì néng 'ér shuō， wǒ míng 'ér yě tì liǎo tóu tóng tā zuò gū zǐ qù ní， kě qiǎo yòu sòng liǎo huā 'ér lái， ruò tì liǎo tóu， kě bǎ zhè huā 'ér dài zài nà lǐ ní？ " shuō zhe， dà jiā qǔ xiào yī huí， xī chūn mìng yā huán rù huà lái shōu liǎo。
zhōu ruì jiā de yīn wèn zhì néng 'ér：“ nǐ shì shénme shí hòu lái de？ nǐ shī fù nà tū wāi lá wǎng nà lǐ qù liǎo？ " zhì néng 'ér dào：“ wǒ men yī zǎo jiù lái liǎo。 wǒ shī fù jiàn liǎo tài tài， jiù wǎng yú lǎo yé fǔ nèi qù liǎo， jiào wǒ zài zhè lǐ děng tā ní。” zhōu ruì jiā de yòu dào：“ shí wǔ de yuè lì xiāng gōng yín zǐ kě céng dé liǎo méi yòu？ " zhì néng 'ér yáo tóu 'ér shuō：“ wǒ bù zhī dào。” xī chūn tīng liǎo， biàn wèn zhōu ruì jiā de：“ rú jīn gè miào yuè lì yín zǐ shì shuí guǎn zhe？ " zhōu ruì jiā de dào：“ shì yú xìn guǎn zhe。” xī chūn tīng liǎo xiào dào：“ zhè jiù shì liǎo。 tā shī fù yī lái， yú xìn jiā de jiù gǎn shàng lái， hé tā shī fù gū jī liǎo bàn rì， xiǎng shì jiù wéi zhè shì liǎo。”
nà zhōu ruì jiā de yòu hé zhì néng 'ér láo dāo liǎo yī huì， biàn wǎng fèng jiě 'ér chù lái。 chuān jiā dào cóng lǐ wán hòu chuāng xià guò， gé zhe bō lí chuāng hù， jiàn lǐ wán zài kàng shàng wāi zhe shuì jué ní， suì yuè guò xī huā qiáng， chū xī jiǎo mén jìn rù fèng jiě yuàn zhōng。 zǒu zhì táng wū， zhǐ jiàn xiǎo yā tóu fēng 'ér zuò zài fèng jiě fáng zhōng mén jiàn shàng， jiàn zhōu ruì jiā de lái liǎo， lián máng bǎi shǒu 'ér jiào tā wǎng dōng wū lǐ qù。 zhōu ruì jiā de huì yì， máng niè shǒu niè zú wǎng dōng biān fáng lǐ lái， zhǐ jiàn nǎi zǐ zhèng pāi zhe dà jiě 'ér shuì jué ní。 zhōu ruì jiā de qiǎo wèn nǎi zǐ dào：“ jiě 'ér shuì zhōng jué ní？ yě gāi qǐng xǐng liǎo。” nǎi zǐ yáo tóu 'ér。 zhèng shuō zhe， zhǐ tīng nà biān yī zhèn xiào shēng， què yòu jiǎ liǎn de shēng yīn。 jiē zhe fáng mén xiǎng chù， píng 'ér ná zhe dà tóng pén chū lái， jiào fēng 'ér yǎo shuǐ jìn qù。 píng 'ér biàn dào zhè biān lái， yī jiàn liǎo zhōu ruì jiā de biàn wèn：“ nǐ lǎo rén jiā yòu páo liǎo lái zuò shénme？ " zhōu ruì jiā de máng qǐ shēn， ná xiá zǐ yǔ tā， shuō sòng huā 'ér yī shì。 píng 'ér tīng liǎo， biàn dǎ kāi xiá zǐ， ná liǎo sì zhī， zhuǎn shēn qù liǎo。 bàn kè gōng fū， shǒu lǐ ná chū liǎng zhī lái， xiān jiào cǎi míng fēn fù dào：“ sòng dào nà biān fǔ lǐ gěi xiǎo róng dà nǎi nǎi dài qù。” cì hòu fāng mìng zhōu ruì jiā de huí qù dào xiè。
zhōu ruì jiā de zhè cái wǎng jiǎ mǔ zhè biān lái。 chuān guò liǎo chuān táng， tái tóu hū jiàn tā nǚ 'ér dǎ bàn zhe cái cóng tā pó jiā lái。 zhōu ruì jiā de máng wèn：“ nǐ zhè huì páo lái zuò shénme？ " tā nǚ 'ér xiào dào：“ mā yī xiàng shēn shàng hǎo？ wǒ zài jiā lǐ děng liǎo zhè bàn rì， mā jìng bù chū qù， shénme shì qíng zhè yàng máng de bù huí jiā？ wǒ děng fán liǎo， zì jǐ xiān dào liǎo lǎo tài tài gēn qián qǐng liǎo 'ān liǎo， zhè huì zǐ qǐng tài tài de 'ān qù。 mā hái yòu shénme bù liǎo de chāishi， shǒu lǐ shì shénme dōng xī？ " zhōu ruì jiā de xiào dào：“ ài！ jīn 'ér piān piān de lái liǎo gè liú lǎo lǎo， wǒ zì jǐ duō shì， wèitā páo liǎo bàn rì， zhè huì zǐ yòu bèi yí tài tài kàn jiàn liǎo， sòng zhè jǐ zhī huā 'ér yǔ gū niàn nǎi nǎi men。 zhè huì zǐ hái méi sòng qīng chǔ ní。 nǐ zhè huì zǐ páo liǎo lái， yī dìng yòu shénme shì。” tā nǚ 'ér xiào dào：“ nǐ lǎo rén jiā dǎo huì cāi。 shí duì nǐ lǎo rén jiā shuō， nǐ nǚ xù qián 'ér yīn duō chī liǎo liǎng bēi jiǔ， hé rén fēn zhēng， bù zhī zěn de bèi rén fàng liǎo yī bǎ xié huǒ， shuō tā lái lì bù míng， gào dào yá mén lǐ， yào dì jiě hái xiāng。 suǒ yǐ wǒ lái hé nǐ lǎo rén jiā shāng yì shāng yì， zhè gè qíngfèn， qiú nà yī gè kě liǎo shì ní？ " zhōu ruì jiā de tīng liǎo dào：“ wǒ jiù zhī dào ní。 zhè yòu shénme dà bù liǎo de shì！ nǐ qiě jiā qù děng wǒ， wǒ gěi lín gū niàn sòng liǎo huā 'ér qù jiù huí jiā qù。 cǐ shí tài tài 'èr nǎi nǎi dōubù dé xián 'ér， nǐ huí qù děng wǒ。 zhè yòu shénme， máng de rú cǐ。” nǚ 'ér tīng shuō， biàn huí qù liǎo， yòu shuō：“ mā， hǎo dǎi kuài lái。” zhōu ruì jiā de dào：“ shì liǎo。 xiǎo rén 'ér jiā méi jīng guò shénme shì， jiù jí dé nǐ zhè yàng liǎo。” shuō zhe， biàn dào dài yù fáng zhōng qù liǎo。
shuí zhī cǐ shí dài yù bù zài zì jǐ fáng zhōng， què zài bǎo yù fáng zhōng dà jiā jiě jiǔ lián huán wán ní。 zhōu ruì jiā de jìn lái xiào dào：“ lín gū niàn， yí tài tài zhe wǒ sòng huā 'ér yǔ gū niàn dài lái liǎo。” bǎo yù tīng shuō， biàn xiān wèn：“ shénme huā 'ér？ ná lái gěi wǒ。” yī miàn zǎo shēn shǒu jiē guò lái liǎo。 kāi xiá kàn shí， yuán lái shì gōng zhì duī shā xīn qiǎo de jiǎ huā 'ér。 dài yù zhǐ jiù bǎo yù shǒu zhōng kàn liǎo yī kàn， biàn wèn dào：“ hái shì dān sòng wǒ yī rén de， hái shì bié de gū niàn mendōu yòu ní？ " zhōu ruì jiā de dào：“ gè wèi dōuyòu liǎo， zhè liǎng zhī shì gū niàn de liǎo。” dài yù lěng xiào dào：“ wǒ jiù zhī dào， bié rén bù tiǎo shèng xià de yě bù gěi wǒ。” zhōu ruì jiā de tīng liǎo， yī shēng 'ér bù yán yǔ。 bǎo yù biàn wèn dào：“ zhōu jiě jiě， nǐ zuò shénme dào nà biān qù liǎo。” zhōu ruì jiā de yīn shuō：“ tài tài zài nà lǐ， yīn huí huà qù liǎo， yí tài tài jiù shùn biàn jiào wǒ dài lái liǎo。” bǎo yù dào：“ bǎo jiě jiě zài jiā zuò shénme ní？ zěn me zhè jǐ rì yě bù guò zhè biān lái？ " zhōu ruì jiā de dào：“ shēn shàng bù dà hǎo ní。” bǎo yù tīng liǎo， biàn hé yā tóu shuō：“ shuí qù qiáo qiáo？ zhǐ shuō wǒ yǔ lín gū niàn dǎ fā liǎo lái qǐng yí tài tài jiě jiě 'ān， wèn jiě jiě shì shénme bìng， xiàn chī shénme yào。 lùn lǐ wǒ gāi qīn zì lái de， jiù shuō cái cóng xué lǐ lái， yě zhe liǎo xiē liáng， yì rì zài qīn zì lái kàn bà。” shuō zhe， qiàn xuě biàn dāyìng qù liǎo。 zhōu ruì jiā de zì qù， wú huà。 yuán lái zhè zhōu ruì de nǚ xù， biàn shì yǔ cūn de hǎo yǒu lěng zǐ xīng， jìn yīn mài gǔ dǒng hé rén dǎ guān sī， gù jiào nǚ rén lái tǎo qíngfèn。 zhōu ruì jiā de zhàng zhe zhù zǐ de shì lì， bǎ zhè xiē shì yě bù fàng zài xīn shàng， wǎn jiān zhǐ qiú qiú fèng jiě 'ér biàn wán liǎo。 zhì zhǎng dēng shí fēn， fèng jiě yǐ xiè liǎo zhuāng， lái jiàn wáng fū rén huí huà：“ jīn 'ér zhēn jiā sòng liǎo lái de dōng xī， wǒ yǐ shōu liǎo。 zán men sòng tā de， chèn zhe tā jiā yòu nián xià jìn xiān de chuán huí qù， yī bìng dū jiāo gěi tā men dài liǎo qù bà？ " wáng fū rén diǎn tóu。 fèng jiě yòu dào：“ lín 'ān bó lǎo tài tài shēng rì de lǐ yǐ jīng dǎ diǎn liǎo， pài shuí sòng qù ní？ " wáng fū rén dào：“ nǐ qiáo shuí xián zhe， jiù jiào tā men qù sì gè nǚ rén jiù shì liǎo， yòu lái dāng shénme zhèng jīng shì wèn wǒ。” fèng jiě yòu xiào dào：“ jīn rì zhēn dà sǎo zǐ lái， qǐng wǒ míng rì guò qù guàng guàng， míng rì dǎo méi yòu shénme shì qíng。” wáng fū rén dào：“ yòu shì méi shìdōu hài bù zhe shénme。 měi cháng tā lái qǐng， yòu wǒ men， nǐ zì rán bù biàn yì， tā jì bù qǐng wǒ men， dān qǐng nǐ， kě zhī shì tā chéng xīn jiào nǐ sàn dàn sàn dàn， bié gū fù liǎo tā de xīn， biàn yòu shì yě gāi guò qù cái shì。” fèng jiě dāyìng liǎo。 dāng xià lǐ wán， yíng， tàn děng jiě mèi men yì lái dìng shěng bì， gè zì guī fáng wú huà。
cì rì fèng jiě shū xǐ liǎo， xiān huí wáng fū rén bì， fāng lái cí jiǎ mǔ。 bǎo yù tīng liǎo， yě yào gēn liǎo guàng qù。 fèng jiě zhǐ dé dāyìng， lì děng zhe huàn liǎo yī fú， jiě 'ér liǎng gè zuò liǎo chē， yī shí jìn rù níng fǔ。 zǎo yòu jiǎ zhēn zhī qī yóu shì yǔ jiǎ róng zhī qī qín shì pó xí liǎng gè， yǐn liǎo duō shǎo jī qiè yā huán xí fù děng jiē chū yí mén。 nà yóu shì yī jiàn liǎo fèng jiě， bì xiān xiào cháo yī zhèn， yī shǒu xié liǎo bǎo yù tóng rù shàng fáng lái guī zuò。 qín shì xiàn chá bì， fèng jiě yīn shuō：“ nǐ men qǐng wǒ lái zuò shénme？ yòu shénme hǎo dōng xī xiào jìng wǒ， jiù kuài xiàn shàng lái， wǒ hái yòu shì ní。” yóu shì qín shì wèi jí dá huà， dì xià jǐ gè jī qiè xiān jiù xiào shuō：“ èr nǎi nǎi jīn 'ér bù lái jiù bà， jì lái liǎo jiù yǐ bù dé 'èr nǎi nǎi liǎo。” zhèng shuō zhe， zhǐ jiàn jiǎ róng jìn lái qǐng 'ān。 bǎo yù yīn wèn：“ dà gē gē jīn rì bù zài jiā me？ " yóu shì dào：“ chū chéng yǔ lǎo yé qǐng 'ān qù liǎo。 kě shì nǐ guài mèn de， zuò zài zhè lǐ zuò shénme？ hé bù yě qù guàng guàng？”
qín shì xiào dào：“ jīn 'ér qiǎo， shàng huí bǎo shū lì kè yào jiàn de wǒ nà xiōng dì， tā jīn 'ér yě zài zhè lǐ， xiǎng zài shū fáng lǐ ní， bǎo shū hé bù qù qiáo yī qiáo？ " bǎo yù tīng liǎo， jí biàn xià kàng yào zǒu。 yóu shì fèng jiě dū máng shuō：“ hǎo shēng zhe， máng shénme？ " yī miàn biàn fēn fù hǎo shēng xiǎo xīn gēn zhe， bié wěi qū zhe tā， dǎo bǐ bù dé gēn liǎo lǎo tài tài guò lái jiù bà liǎo。 fèng jiě shuō dào：“ jì zhèmezhāo， hé bù qǐng jìn zhè qín xiǎo yé lái， wǒ yě qiáo yī qiáo。 nán dào wǒ jiàn bù dé tā bù chéng？ " yóu shì xiào dào：“ bà， bà！ kě yǐ bù bì jiàn tā， bǐ bù dé zán men jiā de hái zǐ men， hú dǎ hǎi shuāi de guàn liǎo。 rén jiā de hái zǐ dōushì sī sī wén wén de guàn liǎo， zhà jiàn liǎo nǐ zhè pò luò hù， hái bèi rén xiào huà sǐ liǎo ní。” fèng jiě xiào dào：“ pǔ tiān xià de rén， wǒ bù xiào huà jiù bà liǎo， jìng jiào zhè xiǎo hái zǐ xiào huà wǒ bù chéng？ " jiǎ róng xiào dào：“ bù shì zhè huà， tā shēng de miǎn tiǎn， méi jiàn guò dà zhèn zhàng 'ér， shěn zǐ jiàn liǎo， méi de shēng qì。” fèng jiě dào：“ píng tā shénme yàng 'ér de， wǒ yě yào jiàn yī jiàn！ bié fàng nǐ niàn de pì liǎo。 zài bù dài wǒ kàn kàn， gěi nǐ yī dùn hǎo zuǐ bā。” jiǎ róng xiào xī xī de shuō：“ wǒ bù gǎn niǔ zhe， jiù dài tā lái。”
shuō zhe， guǒ rán chū qù dài jìn yī gè xiǎo hòu shēng lái， jiào bǎo yù lüè shòu xiē， méi qīng mù xiù， fěn miàn zhū chún， shēn cái jùn qiào， jǔ zhǐ fēng liú， sì zài bǎo yù zhī shàng， zhǐ shì qiè qiè xiū xiū， yòu nǚ 'ér zhī tài， miǎn tiǎn hán hú， màn xiàng fèng jiě zuò yī wèn hǎo。 fèng jiě xǐ de xiān tuī bǎo yù， xiào dào：“ bǐ xià qù liǎo！ " biàn tàn shēn yī bǎ xié liǎo zhè hái zǐ de shǒu， jiù mìng tā shēn bàng zuò liǎo， màn màn de wèn tā： jǐ suì liǎo， dú shénme shū， dì xiōng jǐ gè， xué míng huàn shénme。 qín zhōng yī yī dāyìng liǎo。 zǎo yòu fèng jiě de yā huán xí fù men jiàn fèng jiě chū huì qín zhōng， bìng wèi bèi dé biǎo lǐ lái， suì máng guò nà biān qù gào sù píng 'ér。 píng 'ér zhī dào fèng jiě yǔ qín shì hòu mì， suī shì xiǎo hòu shēng jiā， yì bù kě tài jiǎn， suì zì zuò zhù yì， ná liǎo yī pǐ chǐ tóu， liǎng gè " zhuàng yuán jí dì " de xiǎo jīn kè zǐ， jiāo fù yǔ lái rén sòng guò qù。 fèng jiě yóu xiào shuō tài jiǎn bó děng yǔ。 qín shì děng xiè bì。 yī shí chī guò fàn， yóu shì， fèng jiě， qín shì děng mǒ gǔ pái， bù zài huà xià。
nà bǎo yù zì jiàn liǎo qín zhōng de rén pǐn chū zhòng， xīn zhōng sì yòu suǒ shī， chī liǎo bàn rì， zì jǐ xīn zhōng yòu qǐ liǎo dāi yì， nǎi zì sī dào：“ tiān xià jìng yòu zhè děng rén wù！ rú jīn kàn lái， wǒ jìng chéng liǎo ní zhū là gǒu liǎo。 kě hèn wǒ wèishénme shēng zài zhè hóu mén gōng fǔ zhī jiā， ruò yě shēng zài hán mén bó huàn zhī jiā， zǎo dé yǔ tā jiāo jié， yě bù wǎng shēng liǎo yī shì。 wǒ suī rú cǐ bǐ tā zūn guì， kě zhī jǐn xiù shā luó， yě bù guò guǒ liǎo wǒ zhè gēn sǐ mù tóu， měi jiǔ yáng gāo， yě bù guò tián liǎo wǒ zhè fèn kū ní gōu。‘ fù guì’ èr zì， bù liào zāo wǒ shū dú liǎo！ " qín zhōng zì jiàn liǎo bǎo yù xíng róng chū zhòng， jǔ zhǐ bù fán， gèng jiān jīn guān xiù fú， jiāo bì chǐ tóng， qín zhōng xīn zhōng yì zì sī dào：“ guǒ rán zhè bǎo yù yuàn bù dé rén nì 'ài tā。 kě hèn wǒ piān shēng yú qīng hán zhī jiā， bù néng yǔ tā 'ěr bìn jiāo jiē， kě zhī‘ pín jù’ èr zì xiàn rén， yì shì jiān zhī dà bù kuài shì。” èr rén yī yàng de hú sī luàn xiǎng。 hū rán bǎo yù wèn tā dú shénme shū。 qín zhōng jiàn wèn， yīn 'ér dá yǐ shí huà。 èr rén nǐ yán wǒ yǔ， shí lái jù hòu， yuè jué qīn mì qǐ lái。
yī shí bǎi shàng chá guǒ， bǎo yù biàn shuō：“ wǒ liǎng gè yòu bù chī jiǔ， bǎ guǒ zǐ bǎi zài lǐ jiān xiǎo kàng shàng， wǒ men nà lǐ zuò qù， shěngde nào nǐ men。” yú shì 'èr rén jìn lǐ jiān lái chī chá。 qín shì yī miàn zhāng luó yǔ fèng jiě bǎi jiǔ guǒ， yī miàn máng jìn lái zhǔ bǎo yù dào：“ bǎo shū， nǐ zhí 'ér cháng huò yán yǔ bù fáng tóu， nǐ qiān wàn kàn zhe wǒ， bù yào lǐ tā。 tā suī miǎn tiǎn， què xìng zǐ zuǒ qiáng， bù dà suí hé cǐ shì yòu de。” bǎo yù xiào dào：“ nǐ qù bà， wǒ zhī dào liǎo。” qín shì yòu zhǔ liǎo tā xiōng dì yī huí， fāng qù péi fèng jiě。
yī shí fèng jiě yóu shì yòu dǎ fā rén lái wèn bǎo yù：“ yào chī shénme， wài miàn yòu， zhǐ guǎn yào qù。” bǎo yù zhǐ dāyìng zhe， yě wú xīn zài yǐn shí shàng， zhǐ wèn qín zhōng jìn rì jiā wù děng shì。 qín zhōng yīn shuō：“ yè shī yú qù nián bìng gù， jiā fù yòu nián jì lǎo mài， cán jí zài shēn， gōng wù fán rǒng， yīn cǐ shàng wèi yì jí zài yán shī yī shì， mù xià bù guò zài jiā wēn xí jiù kè 'ér yǐ。 zài dú shū yī shì， bì xū yòu yī 'èr zhī jǐ wéi bàn， shí cháng dà jiā tǎo lùn， cái néng jìn yì。” bǎo yù bù dài shuō wán， biàn dá dào：“ zhèng shì ní， wǒ men què yòu gè jiā shú， hé zú zhōng yòu bù néng yán shī de， biàn kě rù shú dú shū， zǐ dì men zhōng yì yòu qīn qī zài nèi kě yǐ fù dú。 wǒ yīn yè shī shàng nián huí jiā qù liǎo， yě xiàn huāng fèi zhe ní。 jiā fù zhī yì， yì yù zàn sòng wǒ qù wēn xí jiù shū， dài míng nián yè shī shàng lái， zài gè zì zài jiā lǐ dú。 jiā zǔ mǔ yīn shuō： yī zé jiā xué lǐ zhī zǐ dì tài duō， shēng kǒng dà jiā táo qì， fǎn bù hǎo， èr zé yě yīn wǒ bìng liǎo jǐ tiān， suì zàn qiě dān gē zhe。 rú cǐ shuō lái， zūn wēng rú jīn yě wèicǐ shì xuán xīn。 jīn rì huí qù， hé bù bǐng míng， jiù wǎng wǒ men bì shú zhōng lái， wǒ yì xiāng bàn， bǐ cǐ yòu yì， qǐ bù shì hǎo shì？ " qín zhōng xiào dào：“ jiā fù qián rì zài jiā tí qǐ yán shī yī shì， yě céng tí qǐ zhè lǐ de yì xué dǎo hǎo， yuán yào lái hé zhè lǐ de qīn wēng shāng yì yǐn jiàn。 yīn zhè lǐ yòu shì máng， bù biàn wéi zhè diǎn xiǎo shì lái guō xù de。 bǎo shū guǒ rán dù xiǎo zhí huò kě mó mò dí yàn， hé bù sù sù de zuò chéng， yòu bǐ cǐ bù zhì huāng fèi， yòu kě yǐ cháng xiāng tán jù， yòu kě yǐ wèi fù mǔ zhī xīn， yòu kě yǐ dé péng yǒu zhī lè， qǐ bù shì měi shì？ " bǎo yù dào：“ fàng xīn， fàng xīn。 zán men huí lái gào sù nǐ jiě fū jiě jiě hé liǎn 'èr sǎo zǐ。 nǐ jīn rì huí jiā jiù bǐng míng lìng zūn， wǒ huí qù zài bǐng míng zǔ mǔ， zài wú bù sù chéng zhī lǐ。” èr rén jì yì yī dìng。 nà tiān qì yǐ shì zhǎng dēng shí hòu， chū lái yòu kàn tā men wán liǎo yī huí pái。 suàn zhàng shí， què yòu shì qín shì yóu shì 'èr rén shū liǎo xì jiǔ de dōng dào， yán dìng hòu rì chī zhè dōng dào。 yī miàn jiù jiào sòng fàn。
chī bì wǎn fàn， yīn tiān hēi liǎo， yóu shì shuō：“ xiān pài liǎng gè xiǎo zǐ sòng liǎo zhè qín xiāng gōng jiā qù。” xí fù men chuán chū qù bàn rì， qín zhōng gào cí qǐ shēn。 yóu shì wèn：“ pài liǎo shuí sòng qù？ " xí fù men huí shuō：“ wài tóu pài liǎo jiāo dà， shuí zhī jiāo dà zuì liǎo， yòu mà ní。” yóu shì qín shì dōushuō dào：“ piān yòu pài tā zuò shénme！ fàng zhe。 zhè xiē xiǎo zǐ men， nà yī gè pài bù dé？ piān yào rě tā qù。” fèng jiě dào：“ wǒ chéng rì jiā shuō nǐ tài ruǎn ruò liǎo， zòng de jiā lǐ rén zhè yàng hái liǎo dé liǎo。” yóu shì tàn dào：“ nǐ nán dào bù zhī zhè jiāo dà de？ lián lǎo yé dōubù lǐ tā de， nǐ zhēn dà gē gē yě bù lǐ tā。 zhǐ yīn tā cóng xiǎo 'ér gēn zhe tài yé men chū guò sān sì huí bīng， cóng sǐ rén duī lǐ bǎ tài yé bēiliǎo chū lái， dé liǎo mìng， zì jǐ 'āi zhe 'è， què tōu liǎo dōng xī lái gěi zhù zǐ chī， liǎng rì méi dé shuǐ， dé liǎo bàn wǎn shuǐ gěi zhù zǐ hē， tā zì jǐ hē mǎ nì。 bù guò zhàng zhe zhè xiē gōng láo qíngfèn， yòu zǔ zōng shí dū lìng yǎn xiāng dài， rú jīn shuí kěn nán wéi tā qù。 tā zì jǐ yòu lǎo liǎo， yòu bù gù tǐ miàn， yī wèi chī jiǔ， chī zuì liǎo， wú rén bù mà。 wǒ cháng shuō gěi guǎn shì de， bù yào pài tā chāishi， quán dāng yī gè sǐ de jiù wán liǎo。 jīn 'ér yòu pài liǎo tā。” fèng jiě dào：“ wǒ hé céng bù zhī zhè jiāo dà。 dǎo shì nǐ men méi zhù yì， yòu zhè yàng de， hé bù dǎ fā tā yuǎn yuǎn de zhuāng zǐ shàng qù jiù wán liǎo。” shuō zhe， yīn wèn：“ wǒ men de chē kě qí bèi liǎo？ " dì xià zhòng réndōu yìng dào：“ cìhou qí liǎo。”
fèng jiě qǐ shēn gào cí， hé bǎo yù xié shǒu tóng xíng。 yóu shì děng sòng zhì dà tīng， zhǐ jiàn dēng zhú huī huáng， zhòng xiǎo sī dōuzài dān chí shì lì。 nà jiāo dà yòu shì jiǎ zhēn bù zài jiā， jí zài jiā yì bù hǎo zěn yàng tā， gèng kě yǐ rèn yì sǎ luò sǎ luò。 yīn chèn zhe jiǔ xīng， xiān mà dà zǒng guǎn lài 'èr， shuō tā bù gōng dào， qī ruǎn pà yìng， " yòu liǎo hǎo chāishi jiù pài bié rén， xiàng zhè děng hēi gèng bàn yè sòng rén de shì， jiù pài wǒ。 méi liáng xīn de wáng bā gāo zǐ！ xiā chōng guǎn jiā！ nǐ yě bù xiǎng xiǎng， jiāo dà tài yé qiāo qiāo jiǎo， bǐ nǐ de tóu hái gāo ní。 èr shí nián tóu lǐ de jiāo dà tài yé yǎn lǐ yòu shuí？ bié shuō nǐ men zhè yī qǐ zá zhǒng wáng bā gāo zǐ men！ " zhèng mà de xīng tóu shàng， jiǎ róng sòng fèng jiě de chē chū qù， zhòng rén hē tā bù tīng， jiǎ róng rěn bù dé， biàn mà liǎo tā liǎng jù， shǐ rén kǔn qǐ lái， " děng míng rì jiǔ xǐng liǎo， wèn tā hái xínsǐ bù xínsǐ liǎo！ " nà jiāo dà nà lǐ bǎ jiǎ róng fàng zài yǎn lǐ， fǎn dà jiào qǐ lái， gǎn zhe jiǎ róng jiào：“ róng gē 'ér， nǐ bié zài jiāo dà gēn qián shǐ zhù zǐ xìng 'ér。 bié shuō nǐ zhè yàng 'ér de， jiù shì nǐ diē， nǐ yé yé， yě bù gǎn hé jiāo dà tǐng yāo zǐ！ bù shì jiāo dà yī gè rén， nǐ men jiù zuò guān 'ér xiǎng róng huá shòu fù guì？ nǐ zǔ zōng jiǔ sǐ yī shēng zhèng xià zhè jiā yè， dào rú jīn liǎo， bù bào wǒ de 'ēn， fǎn hé wǒ chōng qǐ zhù zǐ lái liǎo。 bù hé wǒ shuō bié de hái kě， ruò zài shuō bié de， zán men hóng dāo zǐ jìn qù bái dāo zǐ chū lái！ " fèng jiě zài chē shàng shuō yǔ jiǎ róng dào：“ yǐ hòu hái bù zǎo dǎ fā liǎo zhè gè méi wáng fǎ de dōng xī！ liú zài zhè lǐ qǐ bù shì huò hài？ cháng huò qīn yǒu zhī dào liǎo， qǐ bù xiào huà zán men zhè yàng de rén jiā， lián gè wáng fǎ guīju dōuméi yòu。” jiǎ róng dāyìng " shì "。
zhòng xiǎo sī jiàn tā tài sǎ yě liǎo， zhǐ dé shàng lái jǐ gè， jiū fān kǔn dǎo， tuō wǎng mǎ juàn lǐ qù。 jiāo dà yuè fā lián jiǎ zhēn dōushuō chū lái， luàn rǎng luàn jiào shuō：“ wǒ yào wǎng cí táng lǐ kū tài yé qù。 nà lǐ chéng wàng dào rú jīn shēng xià zhè xiē chù shēng lái！ měi rì jiā tōu gǒu xì jī， pá huī de pá huī， yǎng xiǎo shū zǐ de yǎng xiǎo shū zǐ， wǒ shénme bù zhī dào？ zán men‘ gēbo zhé liǎo wǎng xiù zǐ lǐ cáng’！ " zhòng xiǎo sī tīng tā shuō chū zhè xiē méi tiān rì de huà lái， hǔ de hún fēi bó sàn， yě bù gù bié de liǎo， biàn bǎ tā kǔn qǐ lái， yòng tǔ hé mǎ fèn mǎn mǎn de tián liǎo tā yī zuǐ。
fèng jiě hé jiǎ róng děng yě yáo yáo de wén dé， biàn dū zhuāng zuò méi tīng jiàn。 bǎo yù zài chē shàng jiàn zhè bān zuì nào， dǎo yě yòu qù， yīn wèn fèng jiě dào：“ jiě jiě， nǐ tīng tā shuō‘ pá huī de pá huī’， shénme shì‘ pá huī’？ " fèng jiě tīng liǎo， lián máng lì méi chēn mù duàn hèdào：“ shǎo hú shuō！ nà shì zuì hàn zuǐ lǐ hùn qìn， nǐ shì shénme yàng de rén， bù shuō méi tīng jiàn， hái dǎo xì wèn！ děng wǒ huí qù huí liǎo tài tài， zǎi xì chuí nǐ bù chuí nǐ！ " hǔ de bǎo yù máng yāng gào dào：“ hǎo jiě jiě， wǒ zài bù gǎn liǎo。” fèng jiě dào：“ zhè cái shì ní。 děng dào liǎo jiā， zán men huí liǎo lǎo tài tài， dǎ fā nǐ tóng qín jiā zhí 'ér xué lǐ niàn shū qù yào jǐn。” shuō zhe， què zì huí wǎng róng fǔ 'ér lái。 zhèng shì：
bù yīn jùn qiào nán wéi yǒu， zhèng wéi fēng liú shǐ dú shū。
Presentation of artificial flowers made in the Palace. Chia Lien disports himself with Hsi-feng. Pao-yue meets Ch'in Chung at a family party.
To resume our narrative. Chou Jui's wife having seen old goody Liu off, speedily came to report the visit to madame Wang; but, contrary to her expectation, she did not find madame Wang in the drawing-room; and it was after inquiring of the waiting-maids that she eventually learnt that she had just gone over to have a chat with "aunt" Hsueeh. Mrs. Chou, upon hearing this, hastily went out by the eastern corner door, and through the yard on the east, into the Pear Fragrance Court.
As soon as she reached the entrance, she caught sight of madame Wang's waiting-maid, Chin Ch'uan-erh, playing about on the terrace steps, with a young girl, who had just let her hair grow. When they saw Chou Jui's wife approach, they forthwith surmised that she must have some message to deliver, so they pursed up their lips and directed her to the inner-room. Chou Jui's wife gently raised the curtain-screen, and upon entering discovered madame Wang, in voluble conversation with "aunt" Hsueeh, about family questions and people in general.
Mrs. Chou did not venture to disturb them, and accordingly came into the inner room, where she found Hsueeh Pao-ch'ai in a house dress, with her hair simply twisted into a knot round the top of the head, sitting on the inner edge of the stove-couch, leaning on a small divan table, in the act of copying a pattern for embroidery, with the waiting-maid Ying Erh. When she saw her enter, Pao Ch'ai hastily put down her pencil, and turning round with a face beaming with smiles, "Sister Chou," she said, "take a seat."
Chou Jui's wife likewise promptly returned the smile.
"How is my young lady?" she inquired, as she sat down on the edge of the couch. "I haven't seen you come over on the other side for two or three days! Has Mr. Pao-yue perhaps given you offence?"
"What an idea!" exclaimed Pao Ch'ai, with a smile. "It's simply that I've had for the last couple of days my old complaint again, and that I've in consequence kept quiet all this time, and looked after myself."
"Is that it?" asked Chou Jui's wife; "but after all, what rooted kind of complaint are you subject to, miss? you should lose really no time in sending for a doctor to diagnose it, and give you something to make you all right. With your tender years, to have an organic ailment is indeed no trifle!"
Pao Ch'ai laughed when she heard these remarks.
"Pray," she said, "don't allude to this again; for this ailment of mine I've seen, I can't tell you, how many doctors; taken no end of medicine and spent I don't know how much money; but the more we did so, not the least little bit of relief did I see. Lucky enough, we eventually came across a bald-pated bonze, whose speciality was the cure of nameless illnesses. We therefore sent for him to see me, and he said that I had brought this along with me from the womb as a sort of inflammatory virus, that luckily I had a constitution strong and hale so that it didn't matter; and that it would be of no avail if I took pills or any medicines. He then told me a prescription from abroad, and gave me also a packet of a certain powder as a preparative, with a peculiar smell and strange flavour. He advised me, whenever my complaint broke out, to take a pill, which would be sure to put me right again. And this has, after all, strange to say, done me a great deal of good."
"What kind of prescription is this one from abroad, I wonder," remarked Mrs. Chou; "if you, miss, would only tell me, it would be worth our while bearing it in mind, and recommending it to others: and if ever we came across any one afflicted with this disease, we would also be doing a charitable deed."
"You'd better not ask for the prescription," rejoined Pao Ch'ai smiling. "Why, its enough to wear one out with perplexity! the necessaries and ingredients are few, and all easy to get, but it would be difficult to find the lucky moment! You want twelve ounces of the pollen of the white peone, which flowers in spring, twelve ounces of the pollen of the white summer lily, twelve ounces of the pollen of the autumn hibiscus flower, and twelve ounces of the white plum in bloom in the winter. You take the four kinds of pollen, and put them in the sun, on the very day of the vernal equinox of the succeeding year to get dry, and then you mix them with the powder and pound them well together. You again want twelve mace of water, fallen on 'rain water' day....."
"Good gracious!" exclaimed Mrs. Chou promptly, as she laughed. "From all you say, why you want three years' time! and what if no rain falls on 'rain water' day! What would one then do?"
"Quite so!" Pao Ch'ai remarked smilingly; "how can there be such an opportune rain on that very day! but to wait is also the best thing, there's nothing else to be done. Besides, you want twelve mace of dew, collected on 'White Dew' day, and twelve mace of the hoar frost, gathered on 'Frost Descent' day, and twelve mace of snow, fallen on 'Slight Snow' day! You next take these four kinds of waters and mix them with the other ingredients, and make pills of the size of a lungngan. You keep them in an old porcelain jar, and bury them under the roots of some flowers; and when the ailment betrays itself, you produce it and take a pill, washing it down with two candareens of a yellow cedar decoction."
"O-mi-to-fu!" cried Mrs. Chou, when she heard all this, bursting out laughing. "It's really enough to kill one! you might wait ten years and find no such lucky moments!"
"Fortunate for me, however," pursued Pao Ch'ai, "in the course of a year or two, after the bonze had told me about this prescription, we got all the ingredients; and, after much trouble, we compounded a supply, which we have now brought along with us from the south to the north; and lies at present under the pear trees."
"Has this medicine any name or other of its own?" further inquired Mrs. Chou.
"It has a name," replied Pao Ch'ai; "the mangy-headed bonze also told it me; he called it 'cold fragrance' pill."
Chou Jui's wife nodded her head, as she heard these words. "What do you feel like after all when this complaint manifests itself?" she went on to ask.
"Nothing much," replied Pao Ch'ai; "I simply pant and cough a bit; but after I've taken a pill, I get over it, and it's all gone."
Mrs. Chou was bent upon making some further remark, when madame Wang was suddenly heard to enquire, "Who is in here?"
Mrs. Chou went out hurriedly and answered; and forthwith told her all about old goody Liu's visit. Having waited for a while, and seeing that madame Wang had nothing to say, she was on the point of retiring, when "aunt" Hsueh unexpectedly remarked smiling: "Wait a bit! I've something to give you to take along with you."
And as she spoke, she called for Hsiang Ling. The sound of the screen-board against the sides of the door was heard, and in walked the waiting-maid, who had been playing with Chin Ch'uan-erh. "Did my lady call?" she asked.
"Bring that box of flowers," said Mrs. Hsueh.
Hsiang Ling assented, and brought from the other side a small embroidered silk box.
"These," explained "aunt" Hsueeh, "are a new kind of flowers, made in the palace. They consist of twelve twigs of flowers of piled gauze. I thought of them yesterday, and as they will, the pity is, only get old, if uselessly put away, why not give them to the girls to wear them in their hair! I meant to have sent them over yesterday, but I forgot all about them. You come to-day most opportunely, and if you will take them with you, I shall have got them off my hands. To the three young ladies in your family give two twigs each, and of the six that will remain give a couple to Miss Lin, and the other four to lady Feng."
"Better keep them and give them to your daughter Pao Ch'ai to wear," observed madame Wang, "and have done with it; why think of all the others?"
"You don't know, sister," replied "aunt" Hsueeh, "what a crotchety thing Pao Ch'ai is! she has no liking for flower or powder."
With these words on her lips, Chou Jui's wife took the box and walked out of the door of the room. Perceiving that Chin Ch'uan-erh was still sunning herself outside, Chou Jui's wife asked her: "Isn't this Hsiang Ling, the waiting-maid that we've often heard of as having been purchased just before the departure of the Hsueeh family for the capital, and on whose account there occurred some case of manslaughter or other?"
"Of course it's she," replied Chin Ch'uan. But as they were talking, they saw Hsiang Ling draw near smirkingly, and Chou Jui's wife at once seized her by the hand, and after minutely scrutinizing her face for a time, she turned round to Chin Ch'uan-erh and smiled. "With these features she really resembles slightly the style of lady Jung of our Eastern Mansion."
"So I too maintain!" said Chin Ch'uan-erh.
Chou Jui's wife then asked Hsiang Ling, "At what age did you enter this family? and where are your father and mother at present?" and also inquired, "In what year of your teens are you? and of what place are you a native?"
But Hsiang Ling, after listening to all these questions, simply nodded her head and replied, "I can't remember."
When Mrs. Chou and Chin Ch'uan-erh heard these words, their spirits changed to grief, and for a while they felt affected and wounded at heart; but in a short time, Mrs. Chou brought the flowers into the room at the back of madame Wang's principal apartment.
The fact is that dowager lady Chia had explained that as her granddaughters were too numerous, it would not be convenient to crowd them together in one place, that Pao-yue and Tai-yue should only remain with her in this part to break her loneliness, but that Ying Ch'un, T'an Ch'un, and Hsi Ch'un, the three of them, should move on this side in the three rooms within the antechamber, at the back of madame lady Wang's quarters; and that Li Wan should be told off to be their attendant and to keep an eye over them.
Chou Jui's wife, therefore, on this occasion came first to these rooms as they were on her way, but she only found a few waiting-maids assembled in the antechamber, waiting silently to obey a call.
Ying Ch'un's waiting-maid, Ssu Chi, together with Shih Shu, T'an Ch'un's waiting-maid, just at this moment raised the curtain, and made their egress, each holding in her hand a tea-cup and saucer; and Chou Jui's wife readily concluding that the young ladies were sitting together also walked into the inner room, where she only saw Ying Ch'un and T'an Ch'un seated near the window, in the act of playing chess. Mrs. Chou presented the flowers and explained whence they came, and what they were.
The girls forthwith interrupted their game, and both with a curtsey, expressed their thanks, and directed the waiting-maids to put the flowers away.
Mrs. Chou complied with their wishes (and handing over the flowers); "Miss Hsi Ch'un," she remarked, "is not at home; and possibly she's over there with our old lady."
"She's in that room, isn't she?" inquired the waiting-maids.
Mrs. Chou at these words readily came into the room on this side, where she found Hsi Ch'un, in company with a certain Chih Neng, a young nun of the "moon reflected on water" convent, talking and laughing together. On seeing Chou Jui's wife enter, Hsi Ch'un at once asked what she wanted, whereupon Chou Jui's wife opened the box of flowers, and explained who had sent them.
"I was just telling Chih Neng," remarked Hsi Ch'un laughing, "that I also purpose shortly shaving my head and becoming a nun; and strange enough, here you again bring me flowers; but supposing I shave my head, where can I wear them?"
They were all very much amused for a time with this remark, and Hsi Ch'un told her waiting-maid, Ju Hua, to come and take over the flowers.
"What time did you come over?" then inquired Mrs. Chou of Chih Neng. "Where is that bald-pated and crotchety superior of yours gone?"
"We came," explained Chih Neng, "as soon as it was day; after calling upon madame Wang, my superior went over to pay a visit in the mansion of Mr. Yue, and told me to wait for her here."
"Have you received," further asked Mrs. Chou, "the monthly allowance for incense offering due on the fifteenth or not?"
"I can't say," replied Chih Neng.
"Who's now in charge of the issue of the monthly allowances to the various temples?" interposed Hsi Ch'un, addressing Mrs. Chou, as soon as she heard what was said.
"It's Yue Hsin," replied Chou Jui's wife, "who's intrusted with the charge."
"That's how it is," observed Hsi Ch'un with a chuckle; "soon after the arrival of the Superior, Yue Hsin's wife came over and kept on whispering with her for some time; so I presume it must have been about this allowance."
Mrs. Chou then went on to bandy a few words with Chih Neng, after which she came over to lady Feng's apartments. Proceeding by a narrow passage, she passed under Li Wan's back windows, and went along the wall ornamented with creepers on the west. Going out of the western side gate, she entered lady Feng's court, and walked over into the Entrance Hall, where she only found the waiting-girl Feng Erh, sitting on the doorsteps of lady Feng's apartments.
When she caught sight of Mrs. Chou approaching, she at once waved her hand, bidding her go to the eastern room. Chou Jui's wife understood her meaning, and hastily came on tiptoe to the chamber on the east, where she saw a nurse patting lady Feng's daughter to sleep.
Mrs. Chou promptly asked the nurse in a low tone of voice: "Is the young lady asleep at this early hour? But if even she is I must wake her up."
The nurse nodded her head in assent, but as these inquiries were being made, a sound of laughter came from over the other side, in which lady Feng's voice could be detected; followed, shortly after, by the sound of a door opening, and out came P'ing Erh, with a large brass basin in her hands, which she told Feng Erh to fill with water and take inside.
P'ing Erh forthwith entered the room on this side, and upon perceiving Chou Jui's wife: "What have you come here again for, my old lady?" she readily inquired.
Chou Jui's wife rose without any delay, and handed her the box. "I've come," said she, "to bring you a present of flowers."
Upon hearing this, P'ing Erh opened the box, and took out four sprigs, and, turning round, walked out of the room. In a short while she came from the inner room with two sprigs in her hand, and calling first of all Ts'ai Ming, she bade her take the flowers over to the mansion on the other side and present them to "madame" Jung, after which she asked Mrs. Chou to express her thanks on her return.
Chou Jui's wife thereupon came over to dowager lady Chia's room on this side of the compound, and as she was going through the Entrance Hall, she casually came, face to face, with her daughter, got up in gala dress, just coming from the house of her mother-in-law.
"What are you running over here for at this time?" promptly inquired Mrs. Chou.
"Have you been well of late, mother?" asked her daughter. "I've been waiting for ever so long at home, but you never come out! What's there so pressing that has prevented you from returning home? I waited till I was tired, and then went on all alone, and paid my respects to our venerable lady; I'm now, on my way to inquire about our lady Wang. What errand haven't you delivered as yet, ma; and what is it you're holding?"
"Ai! as luck would have it," rejoined Chou Jui's wife smilingly, "old goody Liu came over to-day, so that besides my own hundred and one duties, I've had to run about here and there ever so long, and all for her! While attending to these, Mrs. Hsueh came across me, and asked me to take these flowers to the young ladies, and I've been at it up to this very moment, and haven't done yet! But coming at this time, you must surely have something or other that you want me to do for you! what's it?"
"Really ma, you're quick at guessing!" exclaimed her daughter with a smile; "I'll tell you what it's all about. The day before yesterday, your son-in-law had a glass of wine too many, and began altercating with some person or other; and some one, I don't know why, spread some evil report, saying that his antecedents were not clear, and lodged a charge against him at the Yamen, pressing the authorities to deport him to his native place. That's why I've come over to consult with you, as to whom we should appeal to, to do us this favour of helping us out of our dilemma!"
"I knew at once," Mrs. Chou remarked after listening, "that there was something wrong; but this is nothing hard to settle! Go home and wait for me and I'll come straightway, as soon as I've taken these flowers to Miss Lin; our madame Wang and lady Secunda have both no leisure (to attend to you now,) so go back and wait for me! What's the use of so much hurry!"
Her daughter, upon hearing this, forthwith turned round to go back, when she added as she walked away, "Mind, mother, and make haste."
"All right," replied Chou Jui's wife, "of course I will; you are young yet, and without experience, and that's why you are in this flurry."
As she spoke, she betook herself into Tai-yue's apartments. Contrary to her expectation Tai-yue was not at this time in her own room, but in Pao-yue's; where they were amusing themselves in trying to solve the "nine strung rings" puzzle. On entering Mrs. Chou put on a smile. "'Aunt' Hsueeh," she explained, "has told me to bring these flowers and present them to you to wear in your hair."
"What flowers?" exclaimed Pao-yue. "Bring them here and let me see them."
As he uttered these words, he readily stretched out his hands and took them over, and upon opening the box and looking in, he discovered, in fact, two twigs of a novel and artistic kind of artificial flowers, of piled gauze, made in the palace.
Tai-yue merely cast a glance at them, as Pao-yue held them. "Have these flowers," she inquired eagerly, "been sent to me alone, or have all the other girls got some too?"
"Each one of the young ladies has the same," replied Mrs. Chou; "and these two twigs are intended for you, miss."
Tai-yue forced a smile. "Oh! I see," she observed. "If all the others hadn't chosen, even these which remain over wouldn't have been given to me."
Chou Jui's wife did not utter a word in reply.
"Sister Chou, what took you over on the other side?" asked Pao-yue.
"I was told that our madame Wang was over there," explained Mrs. Chou, "and as I went to give her a message, 'aunt' Hsueeh seized the opportunity to ask me to bring over these flowers."
"What was cousin Pao Ch'ai doing at home?" asked Pao-yue. "How is it she's not even been over for these few days?"
"She's not quite well," remarked Mrs. Chou.
When Pao-yue heard this news, "Who'll go," he speedily ascertained of the waiting-maids, "and inquire after her? Tell her that cousin Lin and I have sent round to ask how our aunt and cousin are getting on! ask her what she's ailing from and what medicines she's taking, and explain to her that I know I ought to have gone over myself, but that on my coming back from school a short while back, I again got a slight chill; and that I'll go in person another day."
While Pao-yue was yet speaking, Hsi Hsueeh volunteered to take the message, and went off at once; and Mrs. Chou herself took her leave without another word.
Mrs. Chou's son-in-law was, in fact, Leng Tzu-hsing, the intimate friend of Yue-ts'un. Having recently become involved with some party in a lawsuit, on account of the sale of some curios, he had expressly charged his wife to come and sue for the favour (of a helping hand). Chou Jui's wife, relying upon her master's prestige, did not so much as take the affair to heart; and having waited till evening, she simply went over and requested lady Feng to befriend her, and the matter was forthwith ended.
When the lamps were lit, lady Feng came over, after having disrobed herself, to see madame Wang. "I've already taken charge," she observed, "of the things sent round to-day by the Chen family. As for the presents from us to them, we should avail ourselves of the return of the boats, by which the fresh delicacies for the new year were forwarded, to hand them to them to carry back."
Madame Wang nodded her head in token of approval.
"The birthday presents," continued lady Feng, "for lady Ling Ngan, the mother of the Earl of Ling Ngan, have already been got together, and whom will you depute to take them over?"
"See," suggested madame Wang, "who has nothing to do; let four maids go and all will be right! why come again and ask me?"
"Our eldest sister-in-law Chen," proceeded lady Feng, "came over to invite me to go to-morrow to their place for a little change. I don't think there will be anything for me to do to-morrow."
"Whether there be or not," replied madame Wang, "it doesn't matter; you must go, for whenever she comes with an invitation, it includes us, who are your seniors, so that, of course, it isn't such a pleasant thing for you; but as she doesn't ask us this time, but only asks you, it's evident that she's anxious that you should have a little distraction, and you mustn't disappoint her good intention. Besides it's certainly right that you should go over for a change."
Lady Feng assented, and presently Li Wan, Ying Ch'un and the other cousins, likewise paid each her evening salutation and retired to their respective rooms, where nothing of any notice transpired.
The next day lady Feng completed her toilette, and came over first to tell madame Wang that she was off, and then went to say good-bye to dowager lady Chia; but when Pao-yue heard where she was going, he also wished to go; and as lady Feng had no help but to give in, and to wait until he had changed his clothes, the sister and brother-in-law got into a carriage, and in a short while entered the Ning mansion.
Mrs. Yu, the wife of Chia Chen, and Mrs. Ch'in, the wife of Mr. Chia Jung, the two sisters-in-law, had, along with a number of maids, waiting-girls, and other servants, come as far as the ceremonial gate to receive them, and Mrs. Yu, upon meeting lady Feng, for a while indulged, as was her wont, in humorous remarks, after which, leading Pao-yue by the hand, they entered the drawing room and took their seats, Mrs. Ch'in handed tea round.
"What have you people invited me to come here for?" promptly asked lady Feng; "if you have anything to present me with, hand it to me at once, for I've other things to attend to."
Mrs. Yu and Mrs. Ch'in had barely any time to exchange any further remarks, when several matrons interposed, smilingly: "Had our lady not come to-day, there would have been no help for it, but having come, you can't have it all your own way."
While they were conversing about one thing and another, they caught sight of Chia Jung come in to pay his respects, which prompted Pao-yue to inquire, "Isn't my elder brother at home to-day?"
"He's gone out of town to-day," replied Mrs. Yu, "to inquire after his grandfather. You'll find sitting here," she continued, "very dull, and why not go out and have a stroll?"
"A strange coincidence has taken place to-day," urged Mrs. Ch'in, with a smile; "some time back you, uncle Pao, expressed a wish to see my brother, and to-day he too happens to be here at home. I think he's in the library; but why not go and see for yourself, uncle Pao?"
Pao-yue descended at once from the stove-couch, and was about to go, when Mrs. Yu bade the servants to mind and go with him. "Don't you let him get into trouble," she enjoined. "It's a far different thing when he comes over under the charge of his grandmother, when he's all right."
"If that be so," remarked lady Feng, "why not ask the young gentleman to come in, and then I too can see him. There isn't, I hope, any objection to my seeing him?"
"Never mind! never mind!" observed Mrs. Yu, smilingly; "it's as well that you shouldn't see him. This brother of mine is not, like the boys of our Chia family, accustomed to roughly banging and knocking about. Other people's children are brought up politely and properly, and not in this vixenish style of yours. Why, you'd ridicule him to death!"
"I won't laugh at him then, that's all," smiled lady Feng; "tell them to bring him in at once."
"He's shy," proceeded Mrs. Ch'in, "and has seen nothing much of the world, so that you are sure to be put out when you see him, sister."
"What an idea!" exclaimed lady Feng. "Were he even No Cha himself, I'd like to see him; so don't talk trash; if, after all, you don't bring him round at once, I'll give you a good slap on the mouth."
"I daren't be obstinate," answered Mrs. Ch'in smiling; "I'll bring him round!"
In a short while she did in fact lead in a young lad, who, compared with Pao-yue, was somewhat more slight but, from all appearances, superior to Pao-yue in eyes and eyebrows, (good looks), which were so clear and well-defined, in white complexion and in ruddy lips, as well as graceful appearance and pleasing manners. He was however bashful and timid, like a girl.
In a shy and demure way, he made a bow to lady Feng and asked after her health.
Lady Feng was simply delighted with him. "You take a low seat next to him!" she ventured laughingly as she first pushed Pao-yue back. Then readily stooping forward, she took this lad by the hand and asked him to take a seat next to her. Presently she inquired about his age, his studies and such matters, when she found that at school he went under the name of Ch'in Chung.
The matrons and maids in attendance on lady Feng, perceiving that this was the first time their mistress met Ch'in Chung, (and knowing) that she had not at hand the usual presents, forthwith ran over to the other side and told P'ing Erh about it.
P'ing Erh, aware of the close intimacy that existed between lady Feng and Mrs. Ch'in, speedily took upon herself to decide, and selecting a piece of silk, and two small gold medals, (bearing the wish that he should attain) the highest degree, the senior wranglership, she handed them to the servants who had come over, to take away.
Lady Feng, however, explained that her presents were too mean by far, but Mrs. Ch'in and the others expressed their appreciation of them; and in a short time the repast was over, and Mrs. Yu, lady Feng and Mrs. Ch'in played at dominoes, but of this no details need be given; while both Pao-yue and Ch'in Chung sat down, got up and talked, as they pleased.
Since he had first glanced at Ch'in Chung, and seen what kind of person he was, he felt at heart as if he had lost something, and after being plunged in a dazed state for a time, he began again to give way to foolish thoughts in his mind.
"There are then such beings as he in the world!" he reflected. "I now see there are! I'm however no better than a wallowing pig or a mangy cow! Despicable destiny! why was I ever born in this household of a marquis and in the mansion of a duke? Had I seen the light in the home of some penniless scholar, or poverty-stricken official, I could long ago have enjoyed the communion of his friendship, and I would not have lived my whole existence in vain! Though more honourable than he, it is indeed evident that silk and satins only serve to swathe this rotten trunk of mine, and choice wines and rich meats only to gorge the filthy drain and miry sewer of this body of mine! Wealth! and splendour! ye are no more than contaminated with pollution by me!"
Ever since Ch'in Chung had noticed Pao-yue's unusual appearance, his sedate deportment, and what is more, his hat ornamented with gold, and his dress full of embroidery, attended by beautiful maids and handsome youths, he did not indeed think it a matter of surprise that every one was fond of him.
"Born as I have had the misfortune to be," he went on to commune within himself, "in an honest, though poor family, how can I presume to enjoy his companionship! This is verily a proof of what a barrier poverty and wealth set between man and man. What a serious misfortune is this too in this mortal world!"
In wild and inane ideas of the same strain, indulged these two youths!
Pao-yue by and by further asked of him what books he was reading, and Ch'in Chung, in answer to these inquiries, told him the truth. A few more questions and answers followed; and after about ten remarks, a greater intimacy sprang up between them.
Tea and fruits were shortly served, and while they were having their tea, Pao-yue suggested, "We two don't take any wine, and why shouldn't we have our fruit served on the small couch inside, and go and sit there, and thus save you all the trouble?"
The two of them thereupon came into the inner apartment to have their tea; and Mrs. Ch'in attended to the laying out of fruit and wines for lady Feng, and hurriedly entered the room and hinted to Pao-yue: "Dear uncle Pao, your nephew is young, and should he happen to say anything disrespectful, do please overlook it, for my sake, for though shy, he's naturally of a perverse and wilful disposition, and is rather given to having his own way."
"Off with you!" cried Pao-yue laughing; "I know it all." Mrs. Ch'in then went on to give a bit of advice to her brother, and at length came to keep lady Feng company. Presently lady Feng and Mrs. Yu sent another servant to tell Pao-yue that there was outside of everything they might wish to eat and that they should mind and go and ask for it; and Pao-yue simply signified that they would; but his mind was not set upon drinking or eating; all he did was to keep making inquiries of Ch'in Chung about recent family concerns.
Ch'in Chung went on to explain that his tutor had last year relinquished his post, that his father was advanced in years and afflicted with disease, and had multifarious public duties to preoccupy his mind, so that he had as yet had no time to make arrangements for another tutor, and that all he did was no more than to keep up his old tasks; that as regards study, it was likewise necessary to have the company of one or two intimate friends, as then only, by dint of a frequent exchange of ideas and opinions, one could arrive at progress; and Pao-yue gave him no time to complete, but eagerly urged, "Quite so! But in our household, we have a family school, and those of our kindred who have no means sufficient to engage the services of a tutor are at liberty to come over for the sake of study, and the sons and brothers of our relatives are likewise free to join the class. As my own tutor went home last year, I am now also wasting my time doing nothing; my father's intention was that I too should have gone over to this school, so that I might at least temporarily keep up what I have already read, pending the arrival of my tutor next year, when I could again very well resume my studies alone at home. But my grandmother raised objections; maintaining first of all, that the boys who attend the family classes being so numerous, she feared we would be sure to be up to mischief, which wouldn't be at all proper; and that, in the second place, as I had been ill for some time, the matter should be dropped, for the present. But as, from what you say, your worthy father is very much exercised on this score, you should, on your return, tell him all about it, and come over to our school. I'll also be there as your schoolmate; and as you and I will reap mutual benefit from each other's companionship, won't it be nice!"
"When my father was at home the other day," Ch'in Chung smiled and said, "he alluded to the question of a tutor, and explained that the free schools were an excellent institution. He even meant to have come and talked matters over with his son-in-law's father about my introduction, but with the urgent concerns here, he didn't think it right for him to come about this small thing, and make any trouble. But if you really believe that I might be of use to you, in either grinding the ink, or washing the slab, why shouldn't you at once make the needful arrangements, so that neither you nor I may idle our time? And as we shall be able to come together often and talk matters over, and set at the same time our parents' minds at ease, and to enjoy the pleasure of friendship, won't it be a profitable thing!"
"Compose your mind!" suggested Pao-yue. "We can by and by first of all, tell your brother-in-law, and your sister as well as sister-in-law Secunda Lien; and on your return home to-day, lose no time in explaining all to your worthy father, and when I get back, I'll speak to my grandmother; and I can't see why our wishes shouldn't speedily be accomplished."
By the time they had arrived at this conclusion, the day was far advanced, and the lights were about to be lit; and they came out and watched them once more for a time as they played at dominoes. When they came to settle their accounts Mrs. Ch'in and Mrs. Yu were again the losers and had to bear the expense of a theatrical and dinner party; and while deciding that they should enjoy this treat the day after the morrow, they also had the evening repast.
Darkness having set in, Mrs. Yu gave orders that two youths should accompany Mr. Ch'in home. The matrons went out to deliver the directions, and after a somewhat long interval, Ch'in Chung said goodbye and was about to start on his way.
"Whom have you told off to escort him?" asked Mrs. Yu.
"Chiao Ta," replied the matrons, "has been told to go, but it happens that he's under the effects of drink and making free use again of abusive language."
Mrs. Yu and Mrs. Chin remonstrated. "What's the use," they said, "of asking him? that mean fellow shouldn't be chosen, but you will go again and provoke him."
"People always maintain," added lady Feng, "that you are far too lenient. But fancy allowing servants in this household to go on in this way; why, what will be the end of it?"
"You don't mean to tell me," observed Mrs. Yu, "that you don't know this Chiao Ta? Why, even the gentlemen one and all pay no heed to his doings! your eldest brother, Chia Cheng, he too doesn't notice him. It's all because when he was young he followed our ancestor in three or four wars, and because on one occasion, by extracting our senior from the heap of slain and carrying him on his back, he saved his life. He himself suffered hunger and stole food for his master to eat; they had no water for two days; and when he did get half a bowl, he gave it to his master, while he himself had sewage water. He now simply presumes upon the sentimental obligations imposed by these services. When the seniors of the family still lived, they all looked upon him with exceptional regard; but who at present ventures to interfere with him? He is also advanced in years, and doesn't care about any decent manners; his sole delight is wine; and when he gets drunk, there isn't a single person whom he won't abuse. I've again and again told the stewards not to henceforward ask Chiao Ta to do any work whatever, but to treat him as dead and gone; and here he's sent again to-day."
"How can I not know all about this Chiao Ta?" remarked lady Feng; "but the secret of all this trouble is, that you won't take any decisive step. Why not pack him off to some distant farm, and have done with him?" And as she spoke, "Is our carriage ready?" she went on to inquire.
"All ready and waiting," interposed the married women.
Lady Feng also got up, said good-bye, and hand in hand with Pao-yue, they walked out of the room, escorted by Mrs. Yu and the party, as far as the entrance of the Main Hall, where they saw the lamps shedding a brilliant light and the attendants all waiting on the platforms. Chiao Ta, however, availing himself of Chia Chen's absence from home, and elated by wine, began to abuse the head steward Lai Erh for his injustice.
"You bully of the weak and coward with the strong," he cried, "when there's any pleasant charge, you send the other servants, but when it's a question of seeing any one home in the dark, then you ask me, you disorderly clown! a nice way you act the steward, indeed! Do you forget that if Mr. Chiao Ta chose to raise one leg, it would be a good deal higher than your head! Remember please, that twenty years ago, Mr. Chiao Ta wouldn't even so much as look at any one, no matter who it was; not to mention a pack of hybrid creatures like yourselves!"
While he went on cursing and railing with all his might, Chia Jung appeared walking by lady Feng's carriage. All the servants having tried to hush him and not succeeding, Chia Jung became exasperated; and forthwith blew him up for a time. "Let some one bind him up," he cried, "and tomorrow, when he's over the wine, I'll call him to task, and we'll see if he won't seek death."
Chiao Ta showed no consideration for Chia Jung. On the contrary, he shouted with more vigour. Going up to Chia Jung: "Brother Jung," he said, "don't put on the airs of a master with Chiao Ta. Not to speak of a man such as you, why even your father and grandfather wouldn't presume to display such side with Chiao Ta. Were it not for Chiao Ta, and him alone, where would your office, honours, riches and dignity be? Your ancestor, whom I brought back from the jaws of death, heaped up all this estate, but up to this very day have I received no thanks for the services I rendered! on the contrary, you come here and play the master; don't say a word more, and things may come right; but if you do, I'll plunge the blade of a knife white in you and extract it red."
Lady Feng, from inside the carriage, remarked to Chia Jung: "Don't you yet pack off this insolent fellow! Why, if you keep him in your house, won't he be a source of mischief? Besides, were relatives and friends to hear about these things, won't they have a laugh at our expense, that a household like ours should be so devoid of all propriety?"
Chia Jung assented. The whole band of servants finding that Chiao Ta was getting too insolent had no help but to come up and throw him over, and binding him up, they dragged him towards the stables. Chiao Ta abused even Chia Chen with still more vehemence, and shouted in a boisterous manner. "I want to go," he cried, "to the family Ancestral Temple and mourn my old master. Who would have ever imagined that he would leave behind such vile creatures of descendants as you all, day after day indulging in obscene and incestuous practices, 'in scraping of the ashes' and in philandering with brothers-in-law. I know all about your doings; the best thing is to hide one's stump of an arm in one's sleeve!" (wash one's dirty clothes at home).
The servants who stood by, upon hearing this wild talk, were quite at their wits' end, and they at once seized him, tied him up, and filled his mouth to the fullest extent with mud mixed with some horse refuse.
Lady Feng and Chia Jung heard all he said from a distance, but pretended not to hear; but Pao-yue, seated in the carriage as he was, also caught this extravagant talk and inquired of lady Feng: "Sister, did you hear him say something about 'scraping of the ashes?' What's it?"
"Don't talk such rubbish!" hastily shouted lady Feng; "it was the maudlin talk of a drunkard! A nice boy you are! not to speak of your listening, but you must also inquire! wait and I'll tell your mother and we'll see if she doesn't seriously take you to task."
Pao-yue was in such a state of fright that he speedily entreated her to forgive him. "My dear sister," he craved, "I won't venture again to say anything of the kind"
"My dear brother, if that be so, it's all right!" rejoined lady Feng reassuringly; "on our return we'll speak to her venerable ladyship and ask her to send some one to arrange matters in the family school, and invite Ch'in Chung to come to school for his studies."
While yet this conversation was going on, they arrived at the Jung Mansion.
Reader, do you wish to know what follows? if you do, the next chapter will unfold it.
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