 section 61 of the dream of the red chamber book 2. This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. Recording by Uteam in Singapore. The dream of the red chamber, book 2, by Tulsi Uteam. Translated by Harry Bencroft Jolly. Chapter 55, Part 2. Tantran smoothed her face. While doing so, she turned herself towards Pina and gave her a cynical smile. You've come just one step too late, she remarked. You weren't in time to see something laughable. Even Sister Wu, an old hand-dressed business, though she be, failed to look up clearly and owed custom and came to play her tricks on us. But when replied her with questions, she luckily had the phase to admit that he had slipped from her memory. Do you, I insinuated, also forget when you've got anything to report to Lady Sakunda, and have you subsequently to go and hunt up all about it? Your mistress can't, I fancy, be so patient as to wait while she goes and institutes proper search. Pina laughed. Were she to have behaved but once in this wise? She observed. I feel positive that a couple of the tendons of her legs would have long ago been snapped. But, Miss, don't credit all they say. It's because they see that our senior mistress is as sweet-tempered as a pulsa, and that you, Miss, are a modest young lady, that they naturally share their duties and come and take liberties with you. Your mind is set upon playing the giddy docks. Continuing, she added, speaking to us those beyond the doorway. But when your mistress gets quite well again, we'll tell her all. You're gifted with the greatest purpose, Cassidy, Miss. The married woman, standing outside the door, smiled in chorus. The proverb says, the person who commits a thought must be the one to suffer. We don't in any way presume to treat any mistress with disdain. Our mistress, said the present, is in delicate health, and if we intentionally provoke her, may we, when we die, have no place to have our corpses entered in. Pina laughed a laugh full of irony. So long as you're aware of this, it's well and good, she said. And smiling at a certain eyes' smile, she resumed, addressing herself to tension. Miss, you know very well how busy our lady has been, and how little she could afford the time to keep this tribe of people in order. Of course, they couldn't therefore be prevented from becoming remiss. The adage has it, look is on our clear of sight. During all these years that you have looked on dispassionately, there have possibly been instances on which though additions or reductions should have been made, our lady Sakunda has not been able to effect them. So, Miss, do add or curtail whatever you may deem necessary. In order that, first, the numb one may be benefited, and that, secondly, you may need to render nougatry the kindness with which you ever feel towards our mistress. But scarcely has she finished, then Balchay and Lee won't smile the interposed. What a dear girl! they ejaculated. One really can't feel angry with that hussy fun, for being partial to her and fond of her. We didn't, at first, see how we could very well alter anything by any increase or reduction. But after what you've told us, we must hit upon a one or two things and try to advise me as to do something, with a view of not showing ourselves ungrateful of the advice you've pretended us. My heart was swelling with indignation. Tandwin observed, laughing, and I awed about to go and give vent to my temper with her mistress. But now that she, Puma, has had to come, she has, with a few words, quite dissuaded me for my purpose. While she spoke, she called the women who had been with them a few minutes back to return into the room. For what things for Mr. Jia Huan and Xia Lan was the money expended during the year in the family school? She inquired of her. Four cakes, replied the women. They ate during the year at school, all for the purchase of paper lampends. Each one of them is allowed eight tails. But various expenses on behalf of the young men, Tandwin added, are invariably paid in monthly installments to the respective households. For cousin Jia Huan's, Mrs. Zhao receives two tails. For Bao Yu's, Xiren draws two tails from our venerable seniors suite of apartments. For cousin Jia Lan's, someone in our senior-age rooms gets the proper allowance. So how is it that these extra-aged tails have to be dispersed at school for each of these young fellows? Is it really for these aged tails that they go to school? But from this day forth, I shall put a stop to this outlay. So, Puma, when you get back, tell your mistress that I say that this item must absolutely be done away with. This should have been done away with long ago, Puma smiled. Last year, a lady expressed her attention to eliminate it, but with the endless thing that claimed her attention about the fall of the year, she forgot all about it. The woman had no other cause than to concur with her views and to walk away. But the married woman thereupon arrived from the garden of brought this out with the boxes of eatables. So Shishu and Su Yun at once brought a small dining table, and Puma began to fuss about laying the vines on it. If you've said all you had, tell to her loved, you'd better be off and attend to your business. What's the use of your bustling about here? I have really nothing to do, Puma answered smiling. Our lady Sakunda sent me first to deliver a message, and next because she feared that the servants in here weren't handy enough. The fact is, she bade me come and help the girls wait on you, my lady, and I you miss. Why, don't you bring Mrs. Baal's meal so that she should have it along with us? Tendron then inquired. As soon as the waiting-maids heard her inquiry, they spidily rushed out and went under the eaves. The girl, they cried, directing the married woman, and said that Mrs. Baalcha would like to have the food passed just now in the hall along with the others, and tell them to send the eatables here. Tendron caught their directions. Going to be deputing people to go on reckless errands, she was separated. Those are dames who manage important matters and look after the house, and do send them to ask for eatables and inquire about tea. You haven't even the least notion about gradation. Punga is standing here to tell her to go and give the message. Punga immediately assented and issued from the room, bent upon going on the errand, but the married woman sturdily pulled her back. How could you, Miss, be made to go and tell them? They smiled. We've got someone here who can do so. So saying, they dusted one of the stone steps with their handkerchief. You've been standing so long, they observed, that you must feel quite tired. Do sit in the sunny place and have a little rest. Punga took a seat on the step. Two matrons attached to the tea room then fetched the rug and spread it out for her. It's curled on those stones, they ventured. This is as clean as it can be. So, Miss, do make the best of it and use it. Punga hastily forced a smile. Many thanks, she replied. Another matron next wrought her a cup of fine new tea. This isn't a tea we ordinarily drink. She quietly smiled. This has really burnt at any of the young ladies with Miss Perry moist in your mouth with some. Punga lost no time in bending her body forward and taking the cup. Then, pointing at the company of married women, she observed in a low voice. You are all too fond of trouble. The way you're going on, won't do at all. She tends when it's only a young girl, so she is loath to show any severity or display any temper. This is because she's full of respect. Yet you people look down on her and insult her. Should she, however, be actually provoked into any violent fit of anger, people will simply say that her behaviour was rather rough and all will be over. But as for you, you'll get at once into endless trouble, even though she might show herself somewhat wilful when her mom treats her with considerable forbearance and ladies akunda too hasn't their courage to meddle with her. And do you people have such arrogance as look down on her? This is certainly just as if an ache were to go and bang itself against a stone. When were we ever so audacious? The service exclaimed with one voice. This far is all the work of Mrs. Jowl. Never mind about that. Punga urged again in an undertone. My dear ladies, when a war force everyone gives it a shove, that Mrs. Jowl has always been rather topsy-turvy in her ways and does things by half. So when never there has been any rompers, you've invariably shoved the blame onto her shoulders. Never had you had any regard for any single person. Your designs are simply awful. Is it likely that all these years that I've been here and I haven't come to know of them? Had our ladies akunda misvanished things just a little bit, she would have long ago been run down by every one of you ladies. Even such as she is, you would, could you only get the least opportunity to be ready to place her in a fix. And how many, many times hasn't she been abused by you? She is grateful when all of them rejoined. You all live in fear and trembling of her, but we know well enough that no one could say that she too does not, in the depth of her heart, entertain some little dread for the lot of you. The other day we said, in talking matters over, that things could not go on smoothly from beginning to end and that some unpleasantness was bound to happen. Miss Turtia is, it's true, a new girl and you've always treated her with little consideration. Without of that company of senior and junior young ladies, she is the only show whom our ladies akunda funks to some certain extent and yet you people now want to look up to her. So speaking, Chowen appeared to view. The married women ran up to her and inquired after her health. Miss, they said, do rest a little. They've had their meals served in there, so wait until things have been cleared away before you go and deliver your message. I'm not like you people. Chowen smiled. How can I afford to wait? With these words on her lips, she was about to go into the hall when Pinot quickly called her back. Chowen, upon turning her head round, called a sigh of pinot. Half you too, she remarked with a smile, come here to become something like those guardians posted outside the enclosing walls. Retracing, at the same time, her footsteps, she took a seat on the rug occupied by Pinot. What message have you got to deliver? Pinot gently asked. I've got to ask when we can get Balus monthly allowance and her own two. She responded. Is this any such pressing matter? Pinot answered. Go back quick and tell Chowen that my advice is that no concern whatever should be brought to Chowen's notice today. That every single matter reported is bound to be objected to. And that even a hundred will just as surely be vetoed. Why is it? He immediately inquired to Chowen upon hearing this explanation. Pinot and the other servants then promptly told her the various reasons. She's just bent. They proceeded upon finding a few way to concerns in order to establish at the expense of any decent person who might chance to present herself a president of some kind or other, so as to fix upon a mode of action which might help to put down expenses to their proper level and afford a lesson to the household. And why are you people the first to come and bump your heads against the nails? If you went now and told them you're errant you would also reflect discredit upon our venerable odor mistress and madame one. But they took parents upon one or two matters to make an example of you. But if they come side with one or two of your applications others will again maintain that they're inclined to favor this one and show partiality to that one. That as you had your own mistress and madame one's authority to fall back upon they were afraid you're not presumed to provoke their displeasure. That they only avail themselves and took big scapegoats off. Just mark my words she even means to raise objections in one or two matters connected with the ladies at Kunda in order to be the better able to shut up people's mouths. So when listened to her with patient ear and then stretching out her tongue it's lucky enough you were here so stopping. She smiled otherwise I would have had my nose well rubbed on the ground I shall see the airless opportunity and give a lot of them a hint. While replying she immediately rose to her feet and took leave of them. Soon after her departure Balchai's eatables arrived and Ping'er hastened to enter and wait on her. By that time Mrs. Zhao had left so the three girls seated themselves on the wooden bed and went through their repast. Balchai faced the south country in the west and won the east. The company of married women stood quietly under the baranda ready to answer any calls. Within the precincts of the chamber only such ways remained in waiting as had ever been their closest attendance. None of the other servants ventured of their own accord to put their foot anywhere inside. The married women meanwhile discussed matters in a confidential whisper Let's do our downright best to save trouble, they argued. Don't let us therefore hover any evil design for even Dame Orwell in that case be placed in the awkward fix and can we boast of any fond honours to expect to fare any better. While they stood on one side and held council together waiting for the meal to be over to take their several reports they could not catch so much as the call of a crow inside the rooms. Neither did the clatter of bowls and chopsticks reach their ears. But presently they discerned a maid raised the frame of the portier as high as she could and two other girls bring the table out. In the tea room three maids waited with three basins in hand. The moment they saw the dining table brought out all three walked in. But after a brief interval they graced with the basins and rinsing cups. Shishu, Suyun and the Yuma thereupon enters with three covered cups of tea placed in trays. Shortly however these three girls also made their exit. Shishu then recommended a young maid to be careful and attend to the wants of their mistresses. When we've had our rights she added we'll come and relieve you but don't go stuffy again The married women at length delivered their reports in a quiet and orderly manner and as they did not presume to be as contemptuous and offhandish as they had been before and when eventually cooled down. I've got something of moment she then reserved to Pira about which I would like to consult your mistress. Happily I remembered it just now to come back as soon as you've had your meal. Ms Baochai is also here at present, so after we four have deliberated together you can carefully ask your lady whether action is to be taken accordingly or not. Pira acquiesced and returned to her quarters. How is it inquired Lily Fung that he have been away such an age? Pira smiled and gave her a full account of what had recently transpired. What a fine splendid girl Ms Tertia is. She laughily had circulated. What I said was quite right. The only pity is that she should have had such a miserable lot as not to have been born of a primary wife. My lady, you're also talking a lot of trash. She very smiled. She made me madame once child but it's a lightly that anyone will be so bowed as to point the finger of scornetta and not treat her like the others. Lily fell aside. How could you know everything? She remarked. She is, of course, the offspring of a comptubine but as a mere girl she can't be placed on the same footing as a man. By and by when anyone aspires to her hand the sort of supercilious parties who now treat the world well as a first step ask whether this young lady is the child of a number one or number two wife and many of these would have anything to say to her as she is the child of a number two but really people haven't any idea that not to speak of her as the offspring of a secondary wife she would be even as a mere servant girl of ours far superior and the very legitimate daughter of any family who I wonder will in the future be so devoid of good fortune to break off the match just because he may be inclined to pick and choose between a wife's child and a comptubine's child and who I would like to know will be that lucky fellow who will snatch her off without any regard to number one and number two continuing she resumed turning smilingly towards Pinger you know well enough how many ways and means I've had all these years to devise in order to effect retrenchment and how there isn't I may safely offer a single soul in the whole household who doesn't detest me behind my back but now that I'm a stride on the tiger's back I must go on for if I put my foot on the ground I shall be devoured it's true my tactics have been more or less seen through but there's no help for it I can't very well become more open-handed in a moment in the second place much goes out at home and little comes in and the hundred and one large and more things which turn up are still managed with that munificence so characteristic of our old ancestors but the funds that come in throughout the year fall short of the immense sums of past days and if I try again to effect any savings people will laugh at me our venerable senior and madame one sufferer wants to bore me for my stinginess yet if we don't seize the first opportunity to think of some plan for enforcing retrenchment our ming's will in the course of a few more years be completely exhausted quite so assented Pingo by and by there will be three of our daughters and two or three more sons added in our road mischievous want to be able single-handed to meet all this heavy money I myself entertain fears of the same score they do full smile but after all they will be ample for when Bayou and Cousinlin get married they won't be any need to touch a cent of public money as our old lady has her own power that means and she can well work out some Miss Secunda is the child of your senior master Yanda and she too needs to be taken into account so there only remain three or four for each of whom one needs only spend at the outpost 10,000 tails Cousin Juan will marry in the near future and if an outlay of 3,000 tails proves insufficient we will be able by settling the bandolier used in those room for smoothing the hair with with both endspits and should our worthy seniors and come about provision for everything is ready made all that we have to do is spend some small sum for a few miscellaneous trifles and 3 to 5,000 tails will more than suffice so with further economies that present there will be plenty for all our successive needs the only fear is lest anything occur at an unforeseen juncture or then it will be dreadful but if there is a way to apprehensions with regard to the future you'd better have your rise and when you've done be quick and go and hear what they mean to treat about in their deliberations I must now turn this opportunity to the best account I was only this very minute lamenting that I had no help in my disposal this bar you is true but he too is made of the same stuff as the rest of them in you or I either to get him under my thumb it would be of no use use whatever senior lady is as good natures as the joss and she likewise is no good Mr. Kunda is worse than useless besides she doesn't belong to this place Miss Quarter is only a child that young fellow Lan and Hoar are more than any of the others like frozen kittens with frizzled coats the only way to find some warm-ho in a stove into which they repote themselves really from one and the same womb has been created to human beings tantrum and jahuan so totally unlike each other as the heavens are distant from the earth but when I think of all this I feel quite angry again that gullling and Miss Bar are both deserving enough but as they also happen to be our connections we couldn't very well be put in charge of our family affairs what's more the one resembles a lantern decorated with nice girls apt to spoil so soon as it is blown by a puff of wind the other has made up her mind not to open her mouth in anything that doesn't concern her when she is questioned about anything she simply shakes her head and repeats thrice I don't know said it would be an extremely difficult job to go and ask her to lend a helping hand there's only therefore Miss Tersha who is as sharp of mind as of tongue besides a straightforward creature in this household of ours and Madame Wang is attached to her as well it's true that she outwardly makes no display of her feelings for her but it's all that old thing Mrs. Zhao who has done the mischief for in her heart she actually holds her as dear as she does Baoyu she's such a contrast to Huan'er he truly makes it hard for anyone to care a grudge for him could I have had my own way I would alone ear this have packed him out of the place but since she, Tantuan has now got this idea into her mind we must cooperate with her but if we can afford each other a helping hand I too want to be single-handers and alone and as far as every right principle eternal principle and honesty of purpose go we shall with such a person as a help mate be able to save ourselves considerable anxiety one's interest will on the other hand derive every advantage but as far as unfairness and bad faith go I've run the show with two malicious hands and I must tell tale and drawback from my old ways when I review what I've done I find that if I still push my tyrannical rule to the bitter end people will hate me most relentlessly so much so that under their smiles they'll harbor daggers and much though we too may be able to boast of having four eyes and two hairs between us they'll compass our ruin when they can at any moment find us of our guard we should therefore make the best of this crisis so that as soon as she takes the initiative and set things in order all their tribe of the people may for the time lose sight of the bitter feelings they cherish against us for the way we've dealt with them in the past but there's another thing besides I naturally know the great talent you possess but I don't feel mistrust that you should by your own wits not be able to bring things round I enjoy these things then on you now for as though a mere girl she has everything at her fingers end the only thing is that she must try and be wary in speech she is besides so much better rare than I am that she is a harder nut to crack the proverb says in order to be able to catch the rebels we must first catch their chief so if she is at present disposed to mature something and set to work to put it into practice she'll certainly have to first and foremost make a start with me in the event consequently of her raising objections to anything I've done mind you don't begin any dispute with her the more virulent she is in her censorship of me the more differential you should be towards her that's your best plan and whatever you do don't imagine that I'm afraid of any loss of face but at the moment you flare up with her things won't go well but I did not allow her time to conclude her argument what too much a space to treat as a simpletons she smiled I've ready carried out your wishes and do you now enjoy all these things on me the defunct smiled it's because she resumed I feared lest you who have your eyes and mouth so full of me and only me might be inclined to show no regard whatever for her that's why I couldn't therefore but tender you the advice I did but since you've already done what I wanted you to do you've shown yourself far sharper than I am there's nothing in this to drive you into another tantrum and to make that mouth of yours begin to chatter away so much about you and I, you and I I've actually addressed you as you if you are enjoying but if you be this pleased at it isn't this a case of a slap on the mouth you can very well give me another one for is it likely that this fizz of mine hasn't as yet tasted any prey what a fizz in you are Lady Feng said smilingly how many thoughts while you go on picking out before you shut up you see how ill I am and yet you come to rub me the wrong way come and sit down for you and I can at all of it have our meals together when there is no one to break in upon this it's only right that we should while these remarks dropped from her lips Feng'er and some three or four other maids entered the room and laid the small stove couch table she ate some bird's nest soup and emptied two small plates of some rochercher light vines for she had long ago temporarily reduced her customary diet from her placed the four kinds of eatables allotted to Feng'er on the table after which she filled a ball of rice for her then with one leg bent on the edge of the stove couch while the other rested on the ground Feng'er kept Lady Feng company during her past in waiting on her words until she finished wringing her mouth she issued certain directions to Feng'er and crossed over at length to 10 trans quarters here she found the courtyard plunged in perfect stillness for the various inmates who had been assembled there had already taken their leave but reader do you wish to follow up the story if so listen to the circumstances detailed in the next chapter end of section 61 recording by Cao Yuqing in Singapore section 62 of the dream of the red chamber book 2 this is a Liberbox recording all Liberbox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit Liberbox.org recording by Yuqing in Singapore the dream of the red chamber book 2 by Cao Yuqing translated by Harry Bencroft Jolly chapter 56 part 1 the clever tantrum increases their income and removes long standing abuses the worthy Balchai preserves intact by the display of a little intelligence the great reputation enjoyed by the Jia family the letter picked up the clue of our story Ping'er brought Lady Feng company during her meal then attending to her while changed her mouth and washed her hands she betook herself eventually to Tantrum's quarters where she discovered the courtyard in perfect stillness what a story was about beyond several maze, matrons and closed attendants of the inner rooms who stood outside the windows on the alert to obey any calls Ping'er stepped into the hall the two cousins and their sister-in-law were all three engaged in discussing some domestic affairs they were talking about the feast to which they had been invited during the new year festivities by Leida's wife and various details in connection with the garden she had in her place but as soon as she Ping'er appeared on the scene Tantrum desired her to see herself on her food stall what was exercise in my mind she there upon observed confined herself to this I was computing that the head oil and rouge and powder we used during the course of a month are also a matter of a couple of tails and I was thinking that what with the sum of two tails already allotted us every month and the extra monthly amount given as well as to the maid allowances are with the addition again of that of eight tails for school expenses we recently spoke about piled to be sure one upon another the thing is is true a mere trifle and the amount really a bag of tail but it doesn't seem to be quite proper but how is it that your mistress didn't take this into account Ping'er smiled there's a why and a where for she answered all the things required by you young ladies must be absolutely be subject to a fixed rule for the different comparadors have to lay in a stock of each every month and to send them to us by the maize to take charge of but purely and simply to keep in readiness for you to use no such thing could ever be tolerated as that each of us should have to get money every day and try and hunt up someone to go and buy these articles for us that's how it is that a comparadors outside receive a lump sum and that they send us month by month by the female servants the suppliers are allotted for the different rooms in regards the two tails you, young ladies they were not originally intended that you should purchase any such articles with but that you should if at any time the ladies and child of the household affairs happened to be away from home or to have no leisure we saved the trouble of having to go in search of the proper persons in the event of you all suddenly finding yourselves in need of money this was done simply because it was feared that you would be subject to complaints but an unprejudiced glance about me now shows me that at least half of our young mistresses in the various quarters invariably purchase these things with ready money of their own so I can't help suspecting that if it isn't a question of the comparadors shaking their duties it must be that what they buy is all mere rubbish Tan Chu and Lee Wan laughed you must have kept a sharp look out to have managed to detect these things they said but as we're shirking the purchases they don't actually do so it's simply that they're behind time by a good number of days yet when Wan puts on the sprue within them they get some articles from somewhere or other who knows where these are however earlier sham for in reality they aren't fit for use but as they are now as ever obtained with cash down a couple of tales could very well be given to the brothers or sons of some of the other people's nurses to purchase them with they'll then be good for something where we however to employ any of the public domestics in the establishment the things will be just as bad as ever I wonder how they do manage to get such utter what as they do the purchases of the comparadors may be what they are King I smiled but were anyone else to buy any better articles the comparadors themselves won't ever forgive them besides other things they'll avert that they are but evil designs and that they wish to deprive them of their post that's how it comes about that the servants would much rather give offence to you all inside by getting inferior things and that they have no desire to hurt the feelings of the managers outside by purchasing anything superior quality but a few young ladies requisition the services of the nurses these men won't have the arrogance to make any nonsensical remarks this accounts for the unhappy state my heart is in tantrum observed but as we are called upon to squander money right and left and as the things purchased a half of them used to see thrown away wouldn't it after all eliminate this monthly allowance to the comparadors this is the first thing the next I'd like to ask you is this when they went during the New Year festivities to Lai Da's house you also went with them and what do you think of that small garden as compared with this of ours it isn't half as big as ours who I laughily explained the trees and plants are likewise fewer by a good deal when I was having a chat with their daughter tantrum proceeded she said that besides the flowers they were and the bamboo shoots vegetables, fish and shrimps they each from this garden of theirs they're still enough every year for people to take over under contact and that by the close of each year there's a surplus in full of 200 tales ever since that day is it that I've become alive to the fact that even a broken lotus leaf and a blade of withered grass are alike worth money this is in very truth the way a wealthy and wealthy people talk but I loved but to not withstanding your honorable position young ladies you really understand nothing about these concerns yet having chew with all your book law seeing anything of the passage in the writing of Zhu Fuzi about they self away I've read it it's true but its object is simply to urge people to exert themselves it's as much empty talk as any random arguments and how could it be bodily treated as a gospel Zhu's worth all as much empty talk as any random arguments but I exclaimed why every sentence in it is founded on fact you've only had the management of affairs in your hands for a couple of days and already greed and ambition have so beclouded your mind that you've come to look upon Zhu's is full of fraud and falsehood but when you by and by go out into the world and see all those mighty concerns reeking in with greed and corruption you will even go as far to treat Confucius himself as a fraud haven't you with a real culture read a book like that of Ji Zi's Tentrum Loved Ji Zi said in Baigong days that when one descends into the arena where gain and emoluments are to be got and enters the world of planning and plotting one makes light of the injunctions of Yao and Shun and disregards the principles inculcated by Confucius and Manches What about the next line Ba Jai insinuated with a significant smile I now cut the text short Patron smiley rejoined in order to adapt the sentence to what I want to say would I recite the following sentence and he abused upon my own self is it likely I would eh? there's nothing under the heavens that can't be turned to some use Ba Jai added and since everything can be utilised everything must be worth money but can it be that a person gifted with such intelligence as yours can have no experience in such great matters and legitimate concerns as these you send for a person live unlawfully interposed and you don't speak about what's right and proper but you start an argument on learning learning is right and proper Ba Jai answered if we made no allusion to learning we'd all soon enough drift among the rustic earth the trio banded words for a while after which they turned their attention again to pertinent affairs Patron took up once more the threat of the conversation this garden of ours she argued is only half as big as theirs so if you double the income they'd arrive you'll see that we ought to commit a net profit of 400 tales a year but were we also now to secure a contract for our surplus products the money we'd earn would of course be a mere trifle and not one that a family like ours should hanker after and were we to depute two special persons to attend to the garden the least permission given by them to anyone to turn anything to improper users would since there'd be so many things of intrinsic value as destruction of the gifts of heaven so would it not be preferable to select several quiet steady and experienced old matrons out of those stationed in the grounds and appoint them to put them in order and look after things neither will there be any need then to make them pay any rent or give any taxes in kind all we can ask them is to supply the household with whatever they can afford during the year in third place the garden will with special persons to look after the plants and trees naturally to improve from year to year that there won't be any bustle or confusion or never the time draws nigh to utilise the grounds secondly people won't venture to injure or usually waste anything in the third place the old matrons themselves will by availing themselves of these small perquisites gardens year after year and day after day all for no good fourthly it will in life manner be possible to effect a saving in the expenditure for gardeners, rockery layers sweepers and other necessary servants and this excess can be utilised for making up other deficiencies I don't see any reason why this shouldn't be practicable but I was standing below contemplating the pictures with characters suspended on the walls upon hearing these suggestions she readily nodded her head assentingly and smiled excellent she cried within three years there will be no more fendements and dirt what a first rate plan the one chimed in this if actually adopted will delight the heart of madam one pecuniary economies are of themselves a portering matter but there will be then in the garden there is a sweep the grounds and those who special shard will be to look after them besides what the persons selected allowed to turn up an honest cash by selling part of the products you'll be so impelled by a sense of their responsibilities and prompted by a desire of gain that they want any longer be any who won't acquit themselves for their duties to the fullest it remained for you miss to put these suggestions in words our mistress may have entertained the idea but is by no means certain that she thought it nice on her part to give utterance to it for as you young ladies live at present in the garden she could not possibly enable as she is to supply such additional ornaments as well to make it more shall we depute people to exercise authority in it and keep it in order with a view of effecting a reduction in expenses such a proposal could never have dropped from her lips but I advanced up to her with alacrity rubbing her face open that mouth of yours wide she laughed and let me see of what staff your teeth and tongue are made ever since you put your foot out of the bed this morning covered away up to this very moment and your song has all been in one strain for neither have you been any complimentary to miss tertia nor have you admitted that your mistress is as far as witsco so much below the mark as to be unable to effect suitable provision yet whenever miss tertia advanced any arguments you've at once made a use of endless words to join issue with her this is because the plan devised by miss tertia was also hit upon by a lady but then must surely have been a reason why she couldn't carry it into execution again as the young ladies have now their quarters in the garden she couldn't with any decency direct anyone to go and rule over it for the mere shake of saving a few cash just consider this if the garden is actually handed to people to make profit out of it the parties interested will of course not even permit a single spray of flowers to be plucked and not a single fruit to be taken away with such as come within the category of senior young ladies they want to naturally have the audacity to be particular but they will daily have endless rows with the junior girls lady fum has with her fears about the future and her misgivings about the present shown herself neither to overbearing nor to server this mistress of theirs is not friendly disposed towards us but when she hears of her various proposals shame might induce her return over a new leaf early this morning dandron laughily observed I was very cross but as soon as I heard of her a rifle I casually remembered that her mistress employed during her time such as relapsing all kinds of laughs and at the sight of her I got more cross than ever but little though when I would have thought it she behaved from the moment she came like a rat that tries to get out of the way of a cat and as she had had to stand for ever so long I pitted her very much but she took up the thread of the conversation and went on to spin that along young of hers yet instead of mentioning that her mistress treats me with every consideration she on the contrary observed the kindness with which you have all alone dealt with our lady miss has not been to no purpose this remark therefore not only dispelled my anger but filled me with so much shame that I began to feel sore at heart and when I came to think carefully over the matter I failed to see how I am your girl who had personally done so much mischief that not a soul cared a straw for me and not a soul to look any interest in me so to possess any such good qualities as to treat anyone kindly when she reached this point she could not check her tears from brimming over the one and her associates perceived how pathetically she spoke and recalling to mind how mrs star had always run her down and how she had ever been involved in some mess or other with madame one on account of this mrs star they too found it difficult to refrain from melting into sobs but they then used their joint efforts to console her let's avail ourselves of this quiet day they suggested to try and find out how we could increase our revenue and remove abuses so as not to render futile the charge played on us by madame one what use or purpose is it to allude to such trivial matters i've already grasped your object you are hastily ventured mrs speak out who do you consider fit and as soon as the proper persons have been fixed upon everything will be square enough what you say is all very well tend to rejoin but it will be necessary to let your lady know something about it it has never been the proper thing for us in here to scrape together any small profits but as your mistress is full of gumption i adopted the course i did has she been at all narrow-minded with many prejudices and many jealousies i wouldn't have shown the least willingness in the matter but is it well located if i were bent upon pulling her pieces how can i take action without consulting her in that case she now smiled i'll go and tell her something about it with this response she went on the errand and only returned after a long lapse of time i said she loved that it would be perfectly useless for me to go however could our lady not readily concede to an excellent proposer like this hearing this can turn forthwith jointly one servant to ask for the role containing the names of the matrons in the garden and bring it to them when produced they all held council together and fixing causarily upon several persons they summoned them to appear before them the one then explained to them the general outline of their duties not one was there among the whole company who listened to her who would not undertake the charge one said if you confide that bamboo tree for 12 months to my care you will again next year with a single tree but besides the roots which will have been eaten at home i shall be able in the course of the year to also pay in some money hand me over another one remarked that portion of paddy field and their will during the year be no need to touch any public funds on account of the various birds they kept for mere fun besides that i shall be in a position to give in something more tamtering was about to pass a remark when a servant reported that the doctor had come and that he had entered the garden to see miss shu so the matrons were obliged to go and not show the doctor in where there are a hundred of you here promptly expatriated Puma you wouldn't know what propriety means are there are there Pachans no couple of housekeepers about to push themselves forward and see the doctor in there is Dame Wu and Dame Tan the servant who brought the message replied the two were on duty at the south west corner at the accumulated splendor gate at this answer here allowed the subject to drop after the departure of the matrons tend to inquire of Barche one of them such as are diligent at the outset but her answer smiling become a remiss in the end and those who have a glip-tunk have an eye to gain tend to elicit to her reply and nodding her head she extolled it with them then showing them with her finger several names on the list she submitted them to the peruzo of the trio this old mother drew the trio observed is a trustworthy woman what's more this old Dame and her sons have generation after generation done the sweeping of the bamboo grooves so let's now place the various bamboo trees under her control this old mother Tian was originally a farmer in everything in the way of vegetables and rice in and about the Dao San village should, albeit they couldn't planted as they are as a mere pastime be treated in such earnest as to call for large works and extensive plantations be entrusted to her care for what they fire better if she can be on the spot and tend them with extra diligence at the proper times and seasons what a pity it is then from procedures finally that two places so spacious as the Hengwu Garden and the Yi Hong Court being no grit to the mail things in the Hengwu Garden are in a worse state Luan Hesli interposed aren't the scented wares and scented herbs sold at present everywhere in perfumery shops large fairs and bridge temples the very counterpart of these things here so if you reckon that you'll find how much greater a return of these articles will give than any other kind of product as for the Yi Hong Court we needn't mention other things but only take into account the roses that bud during the two seasons of spring and summer to how many don't they amount in all besides these we've got along the whole hedge cinnamon roses and monthly roses stock roses honeysuckle and wisteria with these various flowers dried and sewed to the tea and medicine shops they'd also fetch a good deal of money quite so tendering acquiesced with a smile the thing is that there's no one with any notion how to deal with scented herbs there's Yunger who waits on Miss Vakcheng Yunger promptly smiled her mother is well versed in these things it was only the other day that she plucked a few and plated them after drying them well in the sun into a flower basket and a gourd and gave them to me to play with but miss can you have forgotten all about it I was this very minute speaking in your praise but I observed smiling and do you come to shave me what makes you say so exclaimed the trio in utter astonishment it will on no account do what I added you employ such a lot of people in here that they all lead a lazy life and have nothing to put a hand to and were I also now to introduce some more that tribe will look even upon me with utter contempt but let me think of somewhat for you there's in the Yi Hongkot an old name Yi she's Feming's mother that woman is an honest old lady and is furthermore on the best of terms with our Yinger's mother so wouldn't it be well were this charge given to this same year should there even be anything that she doesn't know there'll be no necessity for us to tell her she can go straight away and consult with Yinger's mother and if she can't attend to everything herself it won't matter to whom she will agates some of her duties these will be purely private favors in the event too of anyone making any mean insinuations the blame won't fall on our shoulders by adopting this course you'll be managing things in such a way as to do extreme justice to all art and the trust itself will also be placed on the most satisfactory footing excellent ejaculatively run and pure simultaneously this may be well and good tantrum loved but the fear is that at the side of gain is that propriety that's nothing to do with us Piora joined a smile playing about her lips it was only the other day that Yinger recognized Dame Yir as her adopted mother and invited her to eat and drink with them so that the two families are on the most intimate terms at this session tantrum relinquished the topic of conversation and holding council together they selected several persons all of whom the four had ever viewed with impartial favor and they mugged off their names by dotting them with a pen in the middle while the major ones came to report that the daughter had gone and they handed the prescription their three mistresses then perused its contents on the one hand they dispatched the mistakes to take it outside so that the drugs should be got and return their decoction on the other tantrum relinquished explicitly explained to the various servants chosen what particular phase each had to look after exclusive the added but what fixed customs require for home consumption during the four seasons you are still at liberty to pluck whatever remains and have it taken away as for the prophets will settle accounts at the close of the year I've also been thought myself of something tantrum smiled if the settlement of accounts take place at the end of the year the money will at the time of delivery be naturally played into the accountancy those high up were then as usual at a whole lot of controllers and these well on their part flees their own share as soon as the money gets in the palms of their hand but as by those systems we've now initiated you've been singled out for appointment you've already ridden so far above their heads that they foster all sorts of animosity against you they don't however give them to their feelings but if they don't seize the close of the year when you have to deliver your account to play their tricks on you for what other chances will they wait wherever they obtain in everything that comes under the control during the year half of every share their masters get this is a note custom everyone is aware of this existence but this is a new regime I now introduce in this garden so don't let the money find its way into their hands whenever the annual setting of accounts arrives bring them in to us my idea is but I smiley suggested that no accounts need to be handed even inside this one will have a surplus that one a deficit will involve no end of trouble wouldn't it be better if we were to find out who of them would take over this or that particular kind and let them purvey the various things these are for the exclusive use of the inmates of the garden and I've already made an estimate of them for you they amount to just a few sorts and simply consist of head oil, rouge, powder and scented paper in all of which the young ladies are subject to a fixed rule then besides these there are the brooms darts, baskets and poles wanted in different localities and include for the large and small animals and birds in the deer and rabbits these are the only kinds of things required and if they contract for them there will be little need for anyone to go to the accountancy for money but just calculate what saving will thus be affected all the items are I admit, mere trifles if you know a smile but if you lump together what's used during a year you'll find what a saving of 400 tails will be affected again smile on a remarked voucher it would be 400 tails in one year with 800 tails in two years and with these we could purchase a few more houses and in the way of poor sandy land we could also add several acres to those we've already got there will of course still remain a surplus but as they will have ample trouble in inconvenience to put up with during the year they should also be allowed some balance in hand so as to make up what's vented for themselves the main object is of course to increase profits and curtail expenses yet we couldn't be stingy to any excessive degree in fact while we're even able to make any further economy of ever two or three hundred tails it would never be the proper thing should this involve a breach of the main principles of decorum with these thoughts duly put into practice outside the accountancy will issue in one year four or five hundred tails less without even the semblance of any parsimony while inside the matrix will obtain on the other hand some little things to supply them once with the nurses who have no means of subsistence will likewise be placed in easy circumstances and the plants and trees in the garden will year by year increase their strength and grow more abundantly and this wise you too will have such articles as will be fit for use so that this plan will to some extent not constitute a breach of the high principles of propriety and if ever we want to retrench a little more from where won't we be able to get money but if the whole balance, if any will put you the credit of the public fund everyone inside as well as outside will fill the streets with a din of murmurings and what this be then a slur upon the code of honour proper household such as yours so where any charge should be entrusted to this one out of the several tens of old nurses at present employed in the garden and not that one remainder will naturally resent such injustice as I said a while back all that these women will have to provide among themselves amounts to a few articles so they will unavoidably have ample means hence each should be told to contribute beyond the articles that fall to her share during the year a certain number of doubts whether she may or may not realise any balance and then jointly lumped these sums together and distribute them among those nurses early on service in the garden for although they may not have anything to do with the control of these things they themselves will have to stay in the grounds to keep an eye over the servants on duty to shut the doors to close the windows and to get up early and retire late whenever it remains in torrents or it snows hard and chairs have to be carried by a few young ladies to go out and come in or boats have to be hunted and sledges drawn these rough and arduous duties come alike within their sphere of work they have to labour in the garden from one year's end to the other and though they earn something in those grounds it's only right that they should be able to get some small benefits in the discharge of their legitimate duties but there's another most trivial point that I would broach with less reserve if you think only of your ease and don't share the profits with them they will of course never presume to show their displeasure but in their heart they won't cherish you any good feeling what they'll do will be to make public business a pretext to serve their own private ends with they'll pluck more of your fruits than they should and cut greater quantities of your flowers than they ought and new people will have grievance they'll know where to go and confide it but should they too reap some gain they'll readily look after such things on your behalf as you won't have the time to attend to End of Section 62 Recording by Sao Yusin in Singapore Section 63 of the Dream of the Red Chamber Book 2 This is the Librebox Recording All Librebox recordings are in the public domain For more information please visit Librebox.org Recording by Yusin in Singapore The Dream of the Red Chamber Book 2 by Sao Xiuqing Translated by Henry Bencroft-Jolly Chapter 56 Part 2 The Matrons listened to her explanations and finding that they would be removed from their control of the accountancy that they would not be compelled to go and settle accounts with Lady Feng and that all that they would be called upon to do every year would be to supply a few more dels were each and all delighted to an exceptional degree so much so that every one of them exclaimed in a chorus that they were quite prepared to agree to the terms It is better they said than to be obliged to go out and be squeezed by them and to fork out our own money as well Those two not entrusted with the care of any portion of land were also highly elated when they heard that at the close of each year they would, though they had no valid claim come in for some share of hard cash They all have to hear the trouble They however argued to keep things in order so it is only right that they should be left with a few cash to meet their variance once with and how could we very well gobble our three meals without doing a stroke of work Worthy dames But I smiled You mustn't decline These duties are within your province and you should fulfill them All you need to do is to exert yourselves a bit by day and night and not to reach their limits and careless as to suffer any of the servants to drink and gamble That's all Otherwise I myself must have nothing to do with the control No well enough there is my aunt who appealed to me with her own lips three and five times to do it as a favour to her Your eldest sister-in-law she represented has at present no leisure and the other girls are young and then she asked me to look after things So if I now don't exceed it's as clear as day that I shall be the cause of much worry to my aunt Our Lady Feng herself is seriously ill and our domestic affairs can't hang fire I'm really with nothing to do so we're even a mere neighbour to solicit my help I would also feel bound to land her a hand in her pressure of work How much more therefore when it's my own aunt who invokes my aid Setting aside the way I'm executed by one and all how would I ever be able to stare my aunt in the face if, while I give my sole mind to winning fame and fishing for praise anyone got so intoxicated and lost so much in gambling as to stare up trouble At such a juncture remorse on your part will be too late Even the old reputation you have ever enjoyed will entirely be lost and gone There's young ladies and girls and this vast garden are like placed under your supervision purely and simply because one takes into account that you have been nurses to three or four generations and that you have most scrupulously observed the rules of etiquette and propriety It's but fair that you should try with one mind and show some little regard for what's right and proper but if you can't try your eyes behave with such laxity as to let people gratify their wishes by guzzling and gambling and my aunt comes to hear of these nice doings and scolding from her will be of little consequence but if the various women who attend to the household get sent off the state of affairs they will hold you over the coals that even so much as breathing one single word beforehand to my aunt and vulnerable people though you are you well then instead of tendering advice to young people be called to account by them as housekeepers their exercise authority over you but why shouldn't you yourselves observe a certain amount of decorum and if you do so will they have any occasion to bully you the reason why I've now thought myself on this special boon for you is that you should unanimously strain every nerve to diligently attend to the garden in order that the powers that may at the sight of your unrelenting care and seal have no cause to give way to solicitude into what they inwardly look up to you with regard neither will you render of no effect the various benefits devised for them but go now and minutely ponder over all my advice all the women received coals with gratification what you say is quite right they replied from this time forth you miss and you are lady can well compose your minds with the interest both of you feel on our behalf may heaven and earth not spurious if we do not display a full amount of gratitude for all your kindness these assurances were still being uttered when they saw Lin Zhixiao's wife walk in the family of the Zhen Mansion of Jiangnan she explained arrived in the capital yesterday today they are going into the place to offer their congratulations but they've now sent messengers ahead to come and bring presents and pay their respects while she spoke she produced the list of presents and handed it up Tantran took it over from her they condensed she said for using it are twelve rows of brocades and satins embroidered with dragons such as are for imperial use twelve rows of satins of the palace of the kind word by the emperor twelve rows of every sort of imperial gauze twelve rows of palace silk of the quality used by his majesty and twenty rows of satins gauzes silk and thin silks of different colours generally worn by officials after glancing over the list Lin Yuan and Tantran suggested that a first glass tip should be given to the messengers who brought them which they went on to direct a servant to convey the tidings to Daoidu Lady Jia Daoidu Lady Jia gave orders to call Lin Yuan, Tantran Baochai and the other girls on their arrival their presents were passed under review and this over Lin Yuan put them aside she must wait he sent to the servants of the inner storeroom until Madame Wang comes back and sees them this Zhen family too elderly that they're upon added isn't like any other family the highest tips should therefore be conferred upon the men but as in a twinkle they may also send some of their women kind to calm and take their obeisance silks should be got ready in anticipation scarcely was the remark concluded before a domestic actually announced that four ladies of the Zhen mansion had come to pay their respects upon hearing this Daoidu Lady Jia hastily directed that they should be introduced into her presence the four women ranged from 40 years and over their clothing and headgear were not in any material degree different from those of mistresses as soon as they presented the compliments and inquired about their health elderly Jia desired that four food stalls should be moved forward but though the four women think of forbidding them sit down they only occupied the stalls after Balchai had seated herself when did you enter this capital elderly Jia inquired the four women jumped to their feet with alacrity we entered the capital yesterday they answered they had taken our young lady today into the palace to pay their homage that's why she made us come and give you their compliments and see how the young ladies are getting on you hadn't paid a visit to the capital for ever so many years Daoidu Lady Jia smiledly observed and hear you appear now quite unexpectedly the four women simultaneously smiled again so they said we received this year imperial orders summoning us to the capital has the whole family come old lady Jia asked our old mistresses are young master the two young ladies and the other ladies haven't come up the four women explained only our lady has come together with Miss Tersha is she engaged to anyone old lady Jia asked not yet rejoined the quartet the two families that of your senior marriage lady and that of your ladies Akunda are both our most intimate terms with ours Daoidu Lady Jia smiledly added yes they are replied the four women with a smile the letters received each year from our young ladies assures us that they are entirely dependent upon the kindness bestowed upon them any your worthy mention for their well-being what kindness old lady Jia exclaimed laughingly these two families are really friends of long standing in addition to this they are older relatives so what we do is our simple bound and duty what's more in the favor of a few or two young ladies is they're not full of their own importance that's how it is that we've come to be on such close terms the four women smiled this is mainly due to your vulnerable ladyship's excessive humility they answered is that young gentleman of yours too with your road mistress and what Lady Jia went on to inquire yes he has also come with a road mistress the four women retorted how old is he old lady Jia then asked does he go to school she afterwards inquired he is 13 this year the four women said by way of response but all through those good looks of his our old mistress cherishes him so fondly that from his youth up he has been wayward to the extreme and that he now daily plays the truant but our master and mistress as well don't keep any great check over him yet he can't resemble that young fellow of ours old lady Jia laughed what's the name of your young gentleman as a road mistress treats him just like a real precious gem the quartet explained and as his complexion is naturally so white her ladyship calls him Baoyu he is another one with the name of Baoyu elderly Jia lovelyly said to Liwan Liwan and her companions hastily made a courtesy there have been from most times to the present they smiled very many among contemporaries and persons of different generations as well who have born duplicate names the four women also smiled after the selection of this infant name they proceeded we all, both high and low began to give way to surmises as we could not make out in what relatives or friends family there was a lad also called by the same name but as we hadn't come to the capital for ten years or so we couldn't remember that young fellow is my grandson elderly Jia remarked hello someone come here the married women in maize ascended and approached several steps go into the garden elderly Jia smileily said and call our Baoyu here so that these four housekeeping dames should see how he compares with their own Baoyu the married women upon hearing her orders promptly went off after a while they entered the room Baoyu the moment the four dames caught sight of him they speedily rose to their feet he has given us such a start they slamed smilingly had we not come into your worthy mansion and perchance met him elsewhere we would have taken him for our own Baoyu and followed him as far as the capital while speaking we came forward and took hold of his hand and assailed him with questions Baoyu however also put on a smile and inquired after their health how do his looks compare with those of your young gentleman elderly Jia asked as she smiled the way the four dames ejaculated just now Liwan and her companions explained was sufficient to show how much they resembled in looks how could there ever be such a coincidence elderly Jia laughed yet the children of wealthy families are so delicately nurtured that unless their faces are so deformed that to make them downright ugly they're all equally handsome as far as general appearances go so there's nothing strange in this as we gaze at his features the quartet added with smiling faces we find him the very image of him and from what we gather from our general ladyship he's also like him in waywardness but as far as we can judge this young gentleman's disposition is ever so much better than that of ours what makes you think so elderly Jia precipitously inquired we saw it as soon as we took hold of the young gentleman's hand the four women laughingly rejoined and when he spoke to us had it been that fellow of ours who would have simply called us fools not to speak of taking his hand in ours why we darned even slightly move any of his things that's why those who await on him are invariably young girls before the four dames had time to conclude what they had to say Li Yuan and the rest filmed it so hard to check themselves that with one voice they burst into loud laughter Old lady Jia also laughed let's also send someone now she said do have a look at your value when his hand is taken you too is sure to make an effort to put up with it but don't you know that children of families such as yours and mine are bound notwithstanding their numerous perverse and strange defects to return the orthodox's abilities when they come across any strangers but should they not return the proper's abilities they should by no manner of means be suffered to behave with such perverseness is the way that grown up people doed on them that makes them what they are and as they can first and foremost those of the which in good looks and they comfort themselves secondly was visitors with all propriety with less faulty deportment than their very seniors they managed to win the love and admiration of such as early get a glimpse of them hence it is that they've secretly indulged to a certain degree but if they don't show the least regard to anyone inside or outside and so reflect no credit upon their parents they deserve with all the handsome looks to be attracted to them these sentiments evoked a smile from the four dames your words, veritable lady they exclaimed are quite correct but though our bow you'll be well for and strain in his ways yet whenever he meets any visitors he behaves with skirt hisness and good manners so much so that he's more pleasing to watch than even grown up persons there is no one therefore even without falling in love with him but you'll say why is he then beaten you really aren't aware that at home he has no regard either for percept or for heaven that he comes out with things that never suggest themselves to the imagination of grown up people and that he does everything that takes one by surprise the result is that his mother and mother are driven to their wits ends but often there's this feeling reckless expenditure is a common characteristic of a young man antipathy to school is a common feeling with young people yet there are ways and means to bring him round the words with him is that his disposition is so croshity and whimsical can this ever do this reply was barely ended when a servant informed them that their mistress had returned and saluted the women the four dames laid their obeisance to her but they had just sufficient time to pass a few general observations when Taoja Lady Jia bade them go and rest Madame Wang then handed the tea in person and withdrew from the apartment but when the four dames got up to say goodbye those ladies are adjourned in Madame Wang's quarters after a chat with her on domestic affairs she however told the women to go back so let us put them by without any further allusion to them during this while old Lady Jia's spirits worked so high that she told everyone in anyone she came across that there was another Bao Yu and that he was in every respect the very image of her grandson but as each and all bore in mind that there were many inmates among the large households of those officials with official ancestors caught by the same names that it was an ordinary occurrence for grandmother to be passionately fond of a grandson and that there was nothing out of the way about it they treated the matter as of no significance Bao Yu alone however was such a hair-brained simpleton that he conjectured that the statements bade by the four dames had be intended to flatter his grandmother Jia but consequently he betook himself into the garden to see how Shi Xiaorin was getting on compose your mind now Shi Xiaorin then said to him and go on with your lax once you are as lonely as a single fiber which can't be woven into thread like a single bamboo which can't form a groove but now you've found your pet when you exasperate your parents and they give you beans you'll be able to bolt to Nanjing in quest of the other Bao Yu what a rubbish Bao Yu exclaimed do you too believe that there's another Bao Yu how is it someone asked that there was someone in the Leer's Gate called Ling Xiangru and that during their Han dynasty there lived again another person whose name was Sima Xiangru this matter of names is all well enough Bao Yu rejoined with a smile but as it happens this very appearance is the counterpart of mine such a thing could never be how is it someone inquired that when the Kuang people saw Confucius they fancied it was Yang Huo Confucius and Yang Huo Bao Yu smilingly argued they have been alike in looks they don't have the same names Ling and Sima were again notwithstanding their identical names nothing like each other in appearances but can it ever be possible that he and I, she resemble each other in both respects Xiangrui was at a loss what reply to make to his arguments you may she consequently remarked smiling propound any rubbish you like I'm not in the humour to enter into any discussion with you whether there be one or not is quite immaterial to me it doesn't concern me at all saying this she laid herself down Bao Yu however began again to exercise his mind with further surmises if I say he cogitated that there can't be one there seems from all appearances to be one and if I say that there is one I haven't, on the other hand seen him with my own eyes sad and dejected he returned therefore to his quarters and, replying on his couch he silently communed with the same thoughts until he unconsciously became drowsy and fell fast asleep finding himself in his dream is some garden or other Bao Yu was seized with astonishment besides a reined garden of broad vista so neglected is there another such garden but while indulging in these speculations several girls all of whom were mating mates suddenly made their appearance from the opposite direction Bao Yu was again filled with surprise besides Yuan Yang Si Ren and Ping He he pondered are there verily such maidens as these Bao Yu of May's observe with faces beaming with smiles how is it you'll find yourself in here Bao Yu laboured under the impression that they were addressing him with hasty step he consequently drew near them and returned their smiles I got here he answered quite listlessly what old family's friends garden is this I wonder but sisters pray take me for a stroll the maids smiled with one consent really they exclaimed this isn't our Bao Yu but his looks too are spruce and nice and he is as precocious too with his tongue Bao Yu caught their remarks sisters he equally cried is there actually a second Bao Yu in here as for the two characters Bao Yu the maids speedily explained how our house had received our old mistress and our mistress' injunctions to use them as a spell to protract his life for many years and remove misfortune from this path and when we call him by that name he simply goes into ecstasies at the very mention of it but you young brat from what distant part of the world do you hail that you've recklessly been also dubbed by the same name but beware lest we pound that frowsy flesh of yours into mincemeat lest we off at once gush another maid as she smiled don't let our Bao Yu see us here and say again that by hope not being with a stinking young fellow we've been contaminated by all his pollution with these words on her lips they straight away walked off Bao Yu felled into a brown study there's never been he mused anyone to treat me with such disdain before but what is it in fact that induces them to behave towards me in this manner may it not be true that there lives another human being the very image of myself while lost in reverie he advanced with heedless step until he reached a courtyard Bao Yu was struck with wonder his there actually he cried like the Yi Hong Court another court like it spontaneously then ascending the steps he entered an apartment in which he discerned someone reclining on a couch on the offside set several girls busy at needlework now laughing joyfully now practising their jokes when he overheard the young person on the couch heave a sigh Bao Yu aren't you asleep what are you once more sighing for I presume it's because your sister is ill that you abandon yourself again to idle fears and in moderate anguish these words fell on Bao Yu's ears and took him quite a back I've heard grandmother say he overheard the young person on the couch observe that there lives at Chong An the capital another Bao Yu with the same disposition as myself I never believed what she told me but I just had a dream and in this dream I found myself in a garden of the metropolis where I came across several maidens all of whom called me a stinking young brat and would have nothing what ever to do with me but after much difficulty I succeeded in penetrating into his room he happened to be fast asleep he lay like a mere bag of bones his real faculties had flown somewhere or other whether it was hard for me to say hearing this I've come here Bao Yu said with a lackity in search of Bao Yu and are you indeed that Bao Yu the young man on the couch jumped down with all haste and unfolded him in his arms Bao Yu verily Bao Yu he laughingly laughed this isn't by any means such stuff as dreams are made of how can you call this a dream Bao Yu rejoined it's reality yet nothing but reality but scarcely with his rejoinder over then he heard someone come and say our master your father wishes to see you Bao Yu the two lines started with fear one Bao Yu rushed off with all dispatch the other promptly began to shout Bao Yu come back at once Bao Yu be quick and return Shiren who stood by Bao Yu heard him call out his own name in his dreams and immediately gave him a push and woke him up where is Bao Yu gone to she laughed although Bao Yu was by this time aroused from sleep his senses were as yet dull so pointed towards the door he is just gone now he replied he is not far off Shiren laughed you are under the delusion of a dream she said rub your eyes and look carefully as your reflection in the mirror Bao Yu cast a glance in front of him and actually caught sight of the large inlaid mirror facing him quite opposite so he himself burst out laughing but presently a maid handed him a rinse of boizia and tea and salt and he washed his mouth little wonder is it surely mentioned if a road mistress had repeatedly enjoyed that it isn't good to have too many mirrors about in young people's rooms for as the spirit of young persons is not fully developed there is every fear with mirrors casting their reflections all over the place in their dreams in their sleep and is a bed now placed before that huge mirror there when the covers of the mirrors are let down no harm can befall but as the season advances and the weather gets hot one feels so languid and tired that is one likely to think of dropping them just as it happened a little time back it slipped entirely from your memory of course when he first got into bed he must have played with his face with the glass but upon shortly closing his eyes he must naturally have fallen into such confused dreams that they thoroughly upset his rest otherwise how is it possible that he should have started shouting his own name would it not be as well if the bed were moved inside tomorrow that's the proper place for it hardly had she however done before they perceived a servant to call Bao Yu but all she wanted to tell him is not yet known so reader listen to the circumstances recorded in the subsequent chapter end of section 63 recording by Cao Rui Qing in Singapore end of the dream of the red chamber book 2 by Cao Rui Qing translated by Henry Bencroft Jolly chapter 56