 Section 39 of the Dream of the Red Chamber, Book 2. This is a LibriVox recording or LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. The Dream of the Red Chamber, Book 2, by Chelshu Ting, translated by Henry Bancraft Jolie, Chapter 44, Part 2. During this while, Madame Tsing and Wang also called LibriVox to task. Why? What serious matter could it ever have been, only the job remarked? But children of 10 years are like gritty kittens, and how can one say for certain that they won't do such things? Human beings have, from their very infancy, to go through experiences of this kind. It's all my fault, however, for pressing you to have a little more wine than was good for you. But you have also gone and drowned the vinegar of jealousy. This incineration made everyone laugh. Compose your mind. Proceed the Dao Zha Li Di Ja. Tomorrow I will send for him to apologize to you. But you better today not go over, as you might put him to shame. Continuing, she also went on to abuse Ping'er. I've always thought highly of that wench, she said, and how is it that she's turned out to be secretly so bad? Ping'er isn't to blame, Mrs. You and the others smiled. It's Lady Feng who makes people her tools to give vent to her spite. Husband and wife could not very well come to blows face to face. So they combined in using Ping'er as their scapegoat. What injuries haven't fallen to Ping'er a lot? And do you, venerable senior, still go on blowing her up? Is it really so, exclaimed Dao Li Di Ja? I've always said that that girl wasn't anything like that artful thrill. Well, in that case she is to be pitied. For she has had to bear the brunt of her anger and all through no fault of hers. Calling Wu Po to her. Go, she added, and tell Ping'er all I enjoy new. That I know that she has been insulted and that tomorrow I'll send for her mistress to make amends. But that being her mistress' birthday today, I won't have her give rise to any reckless fuss. Ping'er had, we may explain, from an early hour been dragged by Li Wen into the garden of broad vista. Here Ping'er gave way to bitter tears. So much so that her throat choked with sobs and could not give utterance to speech. You are an intelligent person, exhorted her Bao Chai. And how considerably has your lady treated you all along? It was simply because she has had a little too much wine that she behaved as she did today. But had she not made you the means of giving vent to her spite? Is it likely that she could very well have aired her grievances upon anyone else? Besides anyone else would have laughed at her for acting in a sham way. While she reasoned with her, she saw Wu Po approach and deliver Dao Jiao Li Di Jia's message. Ping'er then felt in herself that she had come out of the whole affair with some credit and she little by little resumed her equilibrium. She did not nevertheless put her foot anywhere near the front spot of the compound. After a little rest, Bao Chai and her companions came and paid a visit to Old Lady Jia and Lady Feng while Bao Yu pressed Ping'er to come to the Yihong Court. Zhe Yuan received her with a liberty. I meant she said, to be the first to ask you, but as our senior lady, Jia Zhu, and the young ladies invited you, I couldn't very well do so myself. Ping'er returned her smile. Many thanks, she rejoined. Our words ever commenced between us. She then went on. When there was no provocation, I can't tell. But with a rhyme or reason, I came in for a spell of resentment. Our Lady Secunder has always been very good to you, lovingly remarked Jiren, so she must have done this in a sudden fit of exasperation. Our Lady Secunder did not after all say anything to me, Ping'er explained. It was that wench that blew me up and she deliberately made a loving stop of me. But that fool also of a master of ours struck me. While recounting her experiences, she felt a kinder sense of injustice than before and she found it hard to restrain her tears from trickling down her cheeks. My dear sister Bao Yu hastily advised her don't wound your heart. I'm quite ready to express my apologies on behalf of that pair. What business is that of yours? Ping'er smiled. Weaknesses, whether male or female, are all alike. Bao Yu smilingly argued. So when they heard anyone's feelings, I apologized for them. It's only right that I should do so. What a pity. But as we continued, these new clothes too have been stained. But you will find your sister Hua's costumes in here. And why don't you put one on and take some hot wine and spurt it over yours and iron them out? You might also remake your curfewer. Speaking, he directed the young maids to draw some water or wash in the face and to heat an iron and bring it in. Ping'er had ever heard people maintained that all that Bao Yu excelled in was in knitting friendships with girls. But Bao Yu had so far been loath seeing that Ping'er was Jialin's beloved secondary wife and Lady Feng's confidant to indulge in any similarities with her and being precluded from accomplishing the desire upon which his heart was set, the time and again gave way to vexation. When Ping'er however remarked his conduct towards her on this occasion, she secretly resolved within herself that what was said of him was indeed no idle rumor. But as he had anticipated every one of her wants and she saw moreover that Jialin had for her special benefits opened a box and produced two articles of clothing, not much worn by her, she speedily drew near and washed her face. Bao Yu stood by her side. You must, dear girl, also apply a little cosmetic and powder. You smiled. Otherwise you look as if you were angry with Lady Feng. It's her birthday besides and our old ancestor has sent someone again to come and cheer you up. Hearing how reasonable his suggestions were Ping'er readily went in search of powder. But she failed to notice any about so Bao Yu hurriedly drew up to the toilet table and removing the lid of a porcelain box made at the Qianqian, which contained a set of ten small ladles, tuberose-like in shape, for helping one's self to powder with. He drew out one of them and handed it to Ping'er. This isn't that powder, he smiled. This is made of the seeds of red jasmine, well-getirated and compounded with suitable first-class ingredients. Ping'er emptied some on the palm of her hand. On examination, she really found that it was light, clear, red and scented, perfect in all four properties, that it was easy to apply evenly to the face, that it kept moist and that it differed from other kinds of powder, ordinarily so rough. She subsequently noticed that the cosmetic tool was not spread on a sheet, but that it was contained in a tiny box of white jade, the contents of which bore the semblance of a rose paste. The cosmetic one buys in the market isn't clean, Bao Yu remarked smilingly, its color is faint as well. But this is cosmetic of superior quality. The juice was squeezed out, strained clear, mixed with perfume of flowers and decoated. All you need to do is to take some with that hairpin and rub it on your lips. That will be enough. And if you dissolve some in a little water and rub it on the palm of your hand, it will be ample for you to cover your whole face with. Ping'er followed his directions and performed her toilette. She looked exceptionally fresh and beautiful. A sweet fragrance pervaded her cheeks. Bao Yu then cut with a pair of bamboo scissors, a stock with two optimum orchids, which had blossomed in a flower pot. And he pinned it in her side hair. But a maid was unexpectedly seen to enter the room, sent by Li Wen to come and call her. So she quitted his quarters with all possible dispatch. Bao Yu had not so far been able to have his wishes to revel in Ping'er's society gratified. Ping'er was furthermore a girl of a high grade, most intelligent, most wholesome, and unlike that sort of vulgar and doubt-minded beings, so that he cherished intense disgust against his fate. The present occasion had been the anniversary of Jin Chun'er's birth and he had remained in consequence, plunged in a disconsolate frame of mind throughout the whole day. But contrary to his expectations, the incident eventually occurred, which afforded him, after all, an opportunity to dangle in Ping'er's society and to gratify to some small degree a particle of his wish. This had been a piece of good fortune he so little expected before to be shared during the course of his present existence that as he reclined on his bed, his heart swelled with happiness and contentment. Certainly he reflected that. Jialin's soul thought was to make licentious pleasures the means of gratifying his passions and that he had no idea how to show the least regard to the fair sex. And he mused that Ping'er was without father or mother, brothers or sisters, a solitary being destined to dance attendance upon a couple such as Jialin and his wife. That Jialin was vulgar and lidiful haughty. But that she was gifted, nevertheless, with the lack of splendidly managing things. And that Ping'er had again today come across bitter sorrow and that her destiny was extremely unfortunate. At this stage of his reverie, he began to feel wounded and distressed. When he rose once more to his feet, he noticed that the wine which she had spurted on the clothes she had a few minutes back, divested herself off, had already half dried and taking off the iron, he smoothed them and coated them nicely for her. He then discovered that she had left her handkerchief behind and that it still bore traces of tears. So, furring it into the basin, he raced it and hung it up to dry with feelings bordering on joy as well as sadness. But after a short time spent in a brown study, he too, he took himself to the Daoshan village for a chat and it was only when the lamps had been lit that he got up to take his leave. Ping'er put up in the one's quarters for the night. Lady Feng slept with Daoshan Lady Zhao. While Zhao Lin returned at the late hour to his home, he found it however very lonely. Yet unable to go and call his wife over, he had no alternative but to sleep as best he could for that night. On the morrow he remembered as soon as he opened his eyes the occurrence of the previous day and he felt afraid of such extreme unhappiness that he could not be conscious-stricken enough. Madam Xin pondered with solicitude on Zhao Lin's drunken feet the day before. The moment therefore it was light, she hastily crossed over and sent for Zhao Lin to repair to Daoshan Lady Zhao's apartment. Zhao Lin was thus compelled to suppress all timidity and to repair to the front part of the mansion and fall on his knees at the feet of his own senior. What was the matter? In quite old Lady Zhao. I really had too much wine yesterday. Zhao Lin promptly answered with a forced smile. I must have given you a fright with the ancestor, so I come today to receive condoned punishment. You mean fellow, shouted Daoshan Lady Zhao, spitting at him disdainfully. You go and clutch yourself with spirits and not to speak of your not going to stretch yourself like a corpse and sleep it off you, contrary wise, start beating your wife. But that mixing foam breaks away the whole day long as if she were a human being as valiant as any tyrant. And yet yesterday she got into such a funk that she presented a woeful sight. Had it not been for me, you would have done her bodily harm. And what would you feel like now? Zhao Lin was at heart full of a sense of injury, but he could not master a sufficient courage to say anything in his own defense. The only cause open to him was therefore to make a confession of fault. Don't Lady Feng and Ping'er possess the charms of handsome women? Daoshan Lady Zhao, resumed. And aren't you yet satisfied with them that you must, of a day, go slightly prowling and gallivanting about dragging indiscriminately into your room frowsy and filthy people? Is it for the sake of this sort of ventures that you beat your wife and believer the inmates of your quarters? You've nevertheless had the good fortune of living in life as the siren of a great family. And do you, with eyes wide open, bring disgrace upon your own head? If you have any regard for me, well, then get up and I'll spare you. And if you make your apologies in a proper manner to your wife and take her home, I'll be satisfied. But if you don't, just you clear out of this, I won't even presume to have any of your gentle flections. Zhao Haliang talks to heart the injunctions that fell on his ear, aspiring besides Lady Feng standing opposite to him in undress, her eyes swollen from crying and her face quite shallow, without cosmetic or powder. We thought her more lovable and charming than ever. Wouldn't it be well, it ever moves, that I should make amends so that she and I may be on friendly terms again and that I should win the good pleasure of my old ancestor? At the conclusion of his reflections, he forthwith put on a smile. After your advice, venerable senior, he said, I couldn't be so bold as not to assist to your wishes, but this is showing her more indulgence than ever. What nonsense! exclaimed Dowager Lady Zhao lovingly. I'm well aware that with her extreme decorum, she couldn't hurt anyone's susceptibilities. But should she, in the future wrong you in any way, I shall of course take the law into my own hands and bid you make her submit to your authority and finish. Zhao Haliang at this assurance crawled up and made a bow to Lady Feng. It was really my fault. So don't be angry, Lady Secunder, he said. Everyone in the room laughed. Now, my girlfriend Lady Zhao lovingly observed, you are not to lose your temper, for if you do, I'll lose mine too. Continuing, she directed a servant to go and call Ping'er. And on her arrival, she advised Lady Feng and Zhao Lin to do all they could to reconcile her. At the sight of Ping'er, Zhao Lin showed less regard than ever for the saying that a primary wife differs from a secondary wife. And the instant he heard only the Zhao's exaltation, he drew near her. The injuries, he remarked, to which you were subjected yesterday, miss were untidy due to my shortcoming. If your lady heard your feelings, it was likewise all through me that the thing began. So I expressed my regret, but besides this, I tender my apologies as well on behalf of your mistress. Saying this, he made another bow. This evoked a smile from Daoja Lady Zhao. Lady Feng however also laughed. The old ancestor then desired Lady Feng to come and console Ping'er. But Ping'er hastily advanced and nodded her head before Lady Feng. I do deserve death, she urged, for provoking your leadership to raft on the day of your birthday. Lady Feng was at the moment pricked by shame and remorse for having so freely indulged in wine the previous day as to completely have lost sight of long standing friendships and for allowing her temper to so thoroughly flare up as to lend a patient ear to the gossip of outsiders and unjustly put Ping'er out of continent so when she contrary wise now saw her make advances she felt both abashed and grieved and promptly extending her arms she dragged her up and gave way to tears. I've waited upon your leadership for all these years Ping'er pleaded and you have never so much as given me a single fillet and yet you beat me yesterday but I don't bear you any grouch my lady for it was that wench who was at the bottom of it all nor do I wonder that your leadership lost control over your temper as she spoke, tears trickled down her cheeks too as got those three home Dao Julidzea shouted to the servants if any one of them makes the least allusion to the subjects come at once and tell me of it for without any regard as to who it may be I shall take my staff and give him or her a sound flogging the trio then prostrated themselves before Dao Julidzea and the two ladies Madame Xin and Wang and ascending to her old mistress injunctions and old nurse accompanied the three inmates to their quarters when they got home Lady Feng assured herself that there was no one about how is it? she next asked that I'm like a queen of hell or like a Yecha demon that courtesan swore at me and wished me dead and did you two help her to curse me? if I'm not nice a thousand days why? I must be nice on some one day but if poor me I'm so bad as not even to compare with a disorderly woman how can I have the face to come to spend my life with you here? so speaking she melted into tears aren't you yet gratified? cried Jialin just reflect carefully who was most to blame yesterday and yet in the presence of so many people it was I who after all fell today on my knees and made apologies as well you came in for plenty of credit and do you now go on jabber jabber? can it be that you'd like to make me kneel at your feet before you let matters rest? if you try and play the bully beyond bounds it won't be a good thing for you to these arguments Lady Feng could find no suitable response Pinger then blurt out laughing she's alright again Jialin smiled but I'm really quite at a loss what to do with this one these words were still on his lips when they saw a married woman walked in Bauer's wife has committed suicide by hanging herself she said this announcement plunged both Jialin and Lady Feng into great constellation Lady Feng however lost no time in putting away every sign of excitement then what a riddance she shouted instead what's the use of making such a fuss about a mere tribal but not long elapsed before she perceived Lin Ji Xiao's wife make her appearance in the room Bauer's wife has hung herself she whispered to Lady Feng in a low tone of voice and her mother's relatives want to take legal proceedings Lady Feng gave a sadonic smile that's alright she observed I myself was just thinking about lodging a complaint I and the others tried to dissuade them Lin Ji Xiao's wife continued and by having records to intimidation as well as to promises of money they at last agreed to our terms I haven't got a cash Lady Feng replied had I even any money I wouldn't let them have it so just let them go and lodge any charge they fancy either dissuade them or intimidate them let them go and complain as much as they like but if they fail to establish a case against me they'll after all be punished for trying to make the corpse the means of extorting money out of me Lin Ji Xiao's wife was in a dilemma when she aspired Jialin winked at her comprehending his purpose she readily quitted the apartment and waited for him outside I'll go out and see what they're up to Jialin remarked mind I won't have you give them any money shouted Lady Feng Jialin straightway made his exit he came and held consultation with Lin Ji Xiao and then directed the servants to go and use some fair means others harsh the matter was however not brought to any satisfactory arrangement until he engaged to pay 200 tails for burial expenses but so apprehensive was Jialin lest something might occur to make the relatives change their ideas that he also dispatched a messenger to lay the affair before the Fang Guan that is some local officials who paid a few constables coroners and other official servants come and help him to effect the necessary preparations for the funeral the parties concerned did not venture when they saw the precautions he had adopted to raise any objections disposed though they may have been to try and bring forward other arguments their so alternative therefore also suppressed their resentment to refrain from further importunities and let the matter drop into oblivion Jialin then impressed appoint Lin Ji Xiao to insert the 200 tails in the accounts for the current year by making such additions to various items here and there as was suffice to clear them off and presented Ba Er with money out of his own pocket as a crumb of comfort adding by and by I will choose a nice wife for you when Ba Er therefore came in for a share of credit as well as of hard cash you could not possibly do otherwise than practice contentment and forthwith needness to dilate on this topic he began to pay court to Jialin as much as ever in the inner rooms Lady Feng was it is true much cut up at heart but she strained every nerve to preserve an exterior of total indifference noticing that there was no one present in the apartment she drew Ping'er to her I drank yesterday she smiled to more wine than was good for me so don't bear me a grudge where did I strike you let me see you didn't really strike me hard Ping'er said by way of reply but at this stage they heard someone remark that the ladies and young ladies had come in if you desire reader to know any of the subsequent circumstances to lose the account given in the following chapter section 39 section 40 of the dream of the red chamber book 2 this is a LibreVox recording all LibreVox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit LibreVox.org the dream of the red chamber book 2 translated by Henry Bankraft Jolie chapter 45 part 1 friends interchange words of friendship Da Yu feels down on the windy and rainy evening and in nights versus on wind and rain lady phone we will now go on to explain was engaged in comforting Ping'er when upon unaware perceiving the young ladies entered the room she hastened to make them sit down while Ping'er poured the tea so many of you come today lady phone smiled that it looks as if you have been asked to come by invitation Tan Chen was the first to speak we have to smilingly rejoined two objects in view the one concerns me the other concerns water but among these are besides certain things said by our venerable senior what's up inquired lady phone with a laugh is it so urgent sometime ago Tan Chen proceeded lovingly we started a rhyming club but the first meeting was not quite a success every one of us proved so soft hearted the rules therefore were set at note so I can't help thinking that we must enlist your services as president of the society and superintendent for what is needed to make the thing turn out well is firmness and no favor the next matter is cousin quarter explained to our worthy ancestor that's the requisites for painting the picture of the garden were shot of one thing and another and she said that there must still be she fancied in the little story of the bag lofts some articles remaining over from previous years and that we should go and look for them that if there be any they should be taken out but that in the event of there being none someone should be commissioned to go and purchase a supply of them I'm not up to doing anything wet or dry that is play on word she verses they live on laughs and would you have me pray come and go you may as possible not be up to any of these things time generally applied but we don't expect you to do anything all we want you for is to see whether they'll be among us and remiss or lazy and to decide how they should be punished that's all you shouldn't try and play your tricks upon me they live on smiles see through your little game is it that you wish me to act as president and superintendent no it's as clear as day that your object is that I should play the part of that copper merchant who put in contributions in hard cash you have at every meeting you hold to each take turn and pay the piper but as your funds are not sufficient you've invented this plan to come and emigre me into your club in order to weed all money out of me this must be your little conspiracy these words evoked general laughter you've guessed right they exclaimed in very truth you and smiled you're a creature with an intellect as transparent as crystal and with wit as clear as glass you've got the good fortune of being the elder sister in law they live on smilingly remarked so the young ladies asked you to take them in hand and teach them how to weed and make them learn good manners and need to work and it's for you to guide and direct them in everything but here they start a rhyming society for which not much can be needed and don't you concern yourself about them we'll leave our worthy ancestor and our Madam Wang aside they are old people but you receive each moon an allowance of 10 tails which is twice as much as what any one of us gets more our worthy ancestor and Madam Wang maintain that being a widow and having lost your home you haven't, poor thing enough to live upon and that you have a young child as well to bring up and add it with extreme liberality another 10 tails to your original share your allowance therefore is on a par with that of our dear senior but they likewise gave you a piece of land in the garden and you also come in for the lion's share of rent collected from various quarters and of the annual allowances are potions at the close of each year yet you and your son master, master and servants 10 persons in all what you eat and what you wear comes just as ever out of the general public fund so that computing everything together you get as much as 4 to 500 tails where you then to contribute each year 100 or 200 tails to have them to have some fun how many years could this outlay continue they will very soon be getting married and are they likely then to still expect you to make any contributions so loathe are you however at present to fork out any cash that you've eager them on to come and marry me I'm quite prepared to spend away until we have drained our chest dry don't I know that the money isn't mine just you listen to her we won't laugh I simply made one single remark and out she came with two card loads of nonsensical trash you're as rough a diamond as a leg made of clay all you're good for is to work the small epicus to divide a catty and to fraction an ounce so finicky are you a nice thing you are and yet you've been lucky enough to come to life as the child of a family of learned and high officials you also made such a splendid match and do you still behave in the way you do had you been a son or daughter born in some property stricken humble and low household there's no saying what a mean thing you wouldn't have been everyone in this world has been gout by you and yesterday you went so far as to strike paying her but it wasn't the proper thing for you to stretch out your hand on her was all that liquor for sooth poured down a curious stomach my monkey was up and I meant to have taken upon myself to avenge paying her as grievance but after mature consideration I thought to myself the birthday is as slow to come around as a dog's tail grows to a point I also feared that our venerable senior might be made to feel unhappy so I did not come forward anyhow my resentment isn't yet spent and do you come today to try and irritate me you aren't fit to even pick up shoes for a pinger you too should therefore change your respective places these tones created merriment among the whole party oh, hastily exclaimed lady phone lovingly I know everything you don't at all come to look me up on account of verses or paintings but simply to take revenge on paying her's behalf I never had any idea that paying her had such a backer as yourself to boister her up had I known it I wouldn't have ventured to strike her even though a spirit had been tugging my arm miss paying come over and let me tender my apologies to you in the presence of your senior lady and your young ladies do bear with me for having proved so utterly wanting in verge after I had had a few drinks everyone felt amused by her insinuations what do you say as for me I think it's my fountain duty to vindicate your wrongs before we let the matter drop your remarked ladies may be spoken in jest paying her a smile but I'm not worthy of such a fuss what about worthy and unworthy they won't observe I'm here for you quick, get the key and let your mistress go and open the doors and hunt up the things dear sister-in-law lady phone said with a smile you better go along with them into the garden I'm about to take the rice accounts in hand and square them up with them our senior lady Madam Singh has also sent someone to call me what she wants to tell me again I can't make out but I must need go over for a turn there are besides all those extra clothes for you people to wear at the end of the year and I must get them ready and give them to be made these matters are none of my business they won't lovingly answered first said to my concerns so as to enable me to retire to rest and escape the bother of having all these girls at me dear sister-in-law be a mentally smiled lady phone be good enough to give me a little time you've ever been the one to love me best and how is it that you have on paying her account to care for me time and again have you impressed on my mind that I should despite my manifold duties take good care of my health and manage things in such a way as to find a little leisure for rest and do you now contrary wise come to press the very life out of me that's another thing besides should such clothes as will be required at the end of the year should your concerns be delayed it won't matter but should those of the young ladies be behind time let the responsibility rest upon your shoulders and won't our old lady bear your grudge if you don't mind these small things but as for me I won't utter a single word against you for as I had rather bear to blame myself I won't venture to involve you listen to her they once smiled as she got the gift of the gap but let me ask you will you after all assume the control of this rhyming society or not what's this nonsense you are talking ladyfong laughed were I not to enter the society and spend a little money won't I be treated as a rebel in this garden of broad vista and will I then still think of tearing here to eat my head off so soon as the day dawns tomorrow I'll arrive at my post this month from a horse and after kneeling before the seals my first act will be to give 50 tales for you to quietly cover the expenses of your meetings yet after a few days I shall neither indict any verses nor write any compositions as I am simply a rustic poor nothing more but it would be just the same whether I assume the direction or not for after you pocket my money there's no fear of your not driving me out of the place as this was a drop from her lips one and all laughed again I'll now open the loft proceeded ladyfong should there be any of the articles you want you can tell the servants to bring them out for you to look at them if any will serve your purpose keep them and use them if any be short I'll be the servant go and purchase them according to your list I'll go at once and cut the set in for the painting as for the plan, it isn't with Madam Wang it's still over there at Mr. Jia Jin I tell you all this so that you should avoid going over to Madam Wang's and getting into trouble but I'll go and depute someone to fetch it I'll direct also a servant to take the set in and give it to the gentleman to size with alum would this be alright Li Wen nodded her head by way of a scent and smiled this will be putting you to much trouble and inconvenience, she said but we must really act as you suggest well in that case go home all of you and if after a time she doesn't send the thing around you can come again and bully her so saying she there and then let off the young ladies and was making her way out when Lady Feng exclaimed it's Bao Yu and he alone was giving rise to all this fuss Li Wen overheard her remark and hastily turned herself around we did in fact come over she smiled on account of Bao Yu and we forgot instead all about him the first meeting was deferred through him but we are too soft hearted so there was what penalty to inflict on him Lady Feng gave herself to reflection there's only one thing to do she then remarked just punish him by making him sweep the floor of each of your rooms this will do your verdict is faultless, deluved with one account while they conversed they were on the point of starting on their way back when they caught sight of a young maid walking in supporting Nurse Lai Lady Feng and her companions immediately rose to their feet their faces beaming with smiles vulnerable mother they said to take a seat they then in a body presented their congratulations to her Nurse Lai seated herself on the edge of the stove coach and returned their smiles I am to be congratulated, she rejoined but you, Mistress are to be congratulated as well for had it not been for the bountiful grace displaced by you, Mistress when would this join of mine have come the ladieships sent Tai Ge again yesterday to bring me presents but my grandson called out at the door with his face turned towards the upper quarters when is he going to his post Lee Wen in quiet with a smile Nurse Lai how can I interfere with them she answered why? I let them have their own way and start when they like the other day they were at my house and they prostrated themselves before me but I could find a complimentary remark to make to him so sir, I said putting aside that you are an official you have lived in a reckless and desolate way for now 30 years you should, is true have been people's bond-servant but from the moment you came out of your mother's womb your masters graciously accord you your liberty thanks above to the boundless blessings upon you by your lord and below to the favor of your father and mother you're like a noble siren and a gentleman able to read and to write and you have been carried about by mates, old matrons and nurses just as if you have been a very phoenix but now that you have grown up and reached this age do you have the faintest notion of watch the two words all you think of is to enjoy your benefits but what hardships your grandfather and father had to bear is leaving away for 2 or 3 generations before they succeeded after ever so many ups and downs in raising up a thing like you you don't at all know from the very infancy you ever held from this or second for that so that's the money that was expanded on your behalf would suffice to fuse into a lifelike silver image of you at the age of 20 you again received the bounty of your master in the shape of a promise to purchase official status for you but just mark how many inmates of the principal branch and main offspring have to endure privation and suffer the pangs of hunger so beware you for the good of a born servant let's you snap your happiness after enjoying so many good things for a decade but a help of what spirits and the agency of what devils have you I wonder managed to so successfully and treat your master as to induce him to bring you to the fore again and select you for office magistrates may be minor officials but their functions are nonetheless onerous so that they obtain a post they become the father and mother of that particular locality if you therefore don't mind your business and look after your duties in such a way as to acquit yourself of your loyal obligations to prove your gratitude to the state and to show obedience and reverence to your lord heaven I fear will not even bear with you liwen and lady phone laughed at the full of misgivings they observed from what we can see of him is alright some years back he paid as a visit or two but it's many years now that he hasn't put his foot here at the close of each year and on birthdays we've simply seen his name brought in that's all the other day that he came to knock his head before our venerable senior brought him in her courtyard yonder and got up in the uniform of his new office he looked so dignified and stouted to them before now that he has got this post you should be quite happy instead of that you worry and fret about this and that if it does get bad why he had his father and mother he has to take care of him so all you need to is to be cheerful and content when you've got time to spare do get into a chair and come in and have a game of cards and a chat with our worthy senior and whoever will have the face to hurt your feelings why when you go to your home you'd also have these houses and halls and who is there who would not hold you in high respect you're certainly what one would call a venerable old dame binger poured a cup of tea and brought it to her nurse lie speedily stood up you could have asked any girl to do this for me it wouldn't have mattered but here I'm troubling you again apologizing she resumed sipping her tea a while my lady you're not aware that young girls of this age must be in everything kept strictly in hand in the event of any license they're sure to find time to kick up trouble and annoy their elders those who know how well they are supervised would then say that children are always up to mischief but those who don't will maintain that they take advantage of their wealthy position to despise people to the detriment as well of their mistress's reputation however regret that I can do with him time after time have I had to send for his father and he has been the better after a scolding from him pointing at Baoyu I don't mind whether you feel angry with me for what I'm going to say she proceeded but if your father were to attempt now to exercise ever so little control over you your venerable grandmother is sure to try and screen you yet when in days gone by your worthy father was young he used to be bitten by your grandfather who hasn't seen him do it but did your father in his youth resemble you who have neither fear for god or man? there was also our senior master on the other side Mr. Jasha he was I am it wild but never such a cross grain fellow as yourself and yet he too had his daily dose of the whip there was besides the father of your elder cousin Jin of the eastern mansion he had a disposition that fled up like a fire over which oil is poured if anything was said and it flew into a rage why talk about a son it was really as if he tortured a robber from all I can now see and hear Mr. Jin keeps his son in check just as much as was the custom in old days among his ancestors the only thing is that he abides by it in some respects but not in others besides he doesn't exercise the least restraint over his own self so is it to be wondered at if all his cousins and nieces don't respect him if you've got any sense about you you'll only be too glad that I speak to you in this wise but if you haven't you mayn't be very well able to say anything openly to me but you'll inwardly abuse me who knows to what extent as she reproved him they saw like that his wife arrive in closer session came Zhou Rui's wife along with Zhang Tai's wife to report various matters her wife has come to fetch her mother-in-law I haven't come to fetch our old name like that his wife smilingly rejoined but still inquire whether you my lady and the young ladies will confer upon us the honour of your company when the slide caught this remark she smiled I've really grown quite idiotic what she exclaimed was right and proper for me to say I didn't say but I went on talking instead of ruts and rubbish as our relatives and friends are presenting their congratulations to our grandson for having been selected to fill up their office of his we find ourselves under the necessity of giving a banquet at home but I was thinking that it wouldn't do if we kept a feast going the whole day and we invited this one and not that one reflecting also that it was thanks to our master's vast bounty that we've come in for this unforeseen glory and splendour I felt quite agreeable to do anything even though he may entail the collapse of our household I therefore advised his father to give banquets on three consecutive days that he should, on the first put up several tables and a stage in our mean garden and invite your venerable dowager lady the senior ladies, junior ladies and young ladies to come and have some distraction during the day and that he should have several tables laid on the stage in the main pavilion outside and request the senior and junior gentlemen to confer upon us the luster of their presence that for the second day we should ask our relatives and friends and that for the third we should invite our companions from the two mansions to have three days' excitement and by the boundless favour of our master we'll have the benefit of enjoying the honour of your society when is it to be the one and lady phone inquired smilingly as far as we are concerned we'll feel it our duty to come and we hope that our worthy senior may feel in the humor to go but there's no saying for certain the day chosen is the fourteenth so I eagerly replied just come for the sake of our own mother-in-law I can't tell about the others lady phone explained with a laugh but as for me I shall positively come I must however tell you beforehand that I've no congratulatory presence to give you nor do I know anything about tips to players or others as soon as I shall have done eating I shall bolt so don't laugh at me fiddle sticks like that wife laughed where your ladyship disposed you could well afford to give us twenty and thirty thousand tails I'm off now to invite our venerable mistress Nurse Lai smilingly remarked and if her ladyship also agrees to come I shall deem it a greater honour than ever conferred upon me having said this she went on to issue some injunctions after which she got up to go when the sight of Joe Ray's wife reminded her of something of course she consequently observed I've got one more question to ask you my lady what did sister-in-law Joe's son do to incur blame that he was packed off and his services dispensed with I was just about to tell your daughter-in-law lady phone answered smilingly after listening to her question but with so many things to preoccupy me it slipped from my memory when you get home sister-in-law Lai explain to that old husband of yours that we won't have his that is Joe Ray's son captain either of the mentions and that he can tell him to go about his own business Lai's wife had no option but to express her acquiescence Joe Ray's wife however speedily fell on her knees and gave way to urgent entreaties what is it all about nurse Lai shouted tell me and let me determine the right and wrong of the question the other day lady phone observed that my birthday was celebrated that young fellow of his got drunk before the wine ever went round and when the old day over there sent presents he didn't go outside to give a happy hand but squatted down instead and upgraded people even the presents he wouldn't carry inside and it was only after the two girls had come indoors that he eventually got the servant leds and brought them in those leds were however careful enough in what they did but as for him he let the box he held slipped from his hands and bestrewed the whole courtyard with cakes when everyone had left I deputed Tai Ming to go and talk to him but he then turned around and gave Tai Ming a regular scolding so what's the use of not bundling off a disorderly rascal like him who neither shows any regard for discipline or heaven I was wondering what it could be nurse Lai ventured was it really about this my lady listen to me if he has done anything wrong thrash him and scold him until you make him mend his ways and finish with it but to drive him out of the place will never by any manner of means do he isn't besides to be treated like a child born in our household he is at present employed as Madam Wang's attendant so if you carry out your purpose of expelling him your leadership's face will be put flush my idea is that you should my lady give him a lesson by letting him have several weeks with a cane so as to induce him to abstain from wine in the future if you then retain him in your service as hitherto he'll be alright if you don't do it for his mother's sake do it at least for that of Madam Wang after landing a year to her argument Lady Feng addressed herself like Da's wife well in that case she said call him over tomorrow and give him 40 blows and don't let him after this touch any more wine like Da's wife promised to execute her directions to a ruse wife then cout out and rose to her feet but she also persisted upon prostrating herself before nurse Li and only desisted when like Da's wife pulled her up but presently the trio took their departure and Li Wen and her companions sped back into the garden end of section 40 section 41 of the dream of the red chamber book 2 this is a liberal box recording all liberal box recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit liberalbox.org the dream of the red chamber book 2 by Chao Xuqin translated by Henry Bancraft Jolie chapter 45 part 2 when evening came Lady Feng actually baked the servant's skull and look into the loft and when they discovered a lot of painting materials which had been put away long ago they brought them into the garden Baochai and her friends then selected such as they deemed suitable but as they only had as yet half the necessaries they required they drew out a list of the other half and sent it to Lady Feng who needness for us to particularize had the different articles purchased according to the specimens supplied by a certain day the silk had been sized outside a rough sketch drawn and both returned into the garden Bao Yu therefore was day after day to be found over at Xichun doing his best to help her in her hard work but Tan Chun Niu Wen Yin Chun Baochai and the other girls likewise complicated in her quarters and sat with her when they were at leisure as they could in the first place watch the progress of the painting and as secondly they were able to conveniently see something of each other when Baochai perceived how cool and pleasant the weather was getting and how the nights were beginning again to gradually draw out she came and found her mother and consulted with her until they got some needlework ready of a day she would cross over to the quarters of Gao Zhili's and Madam Wang and tries to pay her salutations but she could not help as well amuting them and sitting with them to keep them company when free she would come and see her cousins in the garden and have at odd times a chat with them so having during day light no leisure to speak of she was warned of a night to ply her needle by lamb light and only retired to sleep after the third watch had come and gone as for Dai Yu she had as a matter of course a relapse of her complaint regularly every year shown after the spring equinox and optimum solstice but she had during the last optimum also found her grandmother jar in such buoyant spirits that she had walked a little too much on two distinct occasions and naturally fatigued herself more than was good for her recently too, she had begun to cough and to feel heavier than she had done at ordinary times so she never by any chance put her foot out of doors but remained at home and looked after her health when at times Daolus crapped over her she longed for her cousins to come and chat with her and dispel her despondent feelings but whenever Bao Chai or any of her cousins pay her a visit she barely uttered half a dozen words before she felt quite averse to any society yet one and all made every allowance for her illness and as she had ever been in poor health and not strong enough to resist any annoyance they did not find the least fault with her despite even any lack of propriety she showed in playing the hospice or any remissness on her part in observing the prescribed rules of etiquette Bao Chai came on this occasion to call on her the conversation started on the symptoms of her ailment the various doctors who visited this place Bao Chai consequently remarked may it's true be all very able practitioners but you take their medicines and don't reap the least benefit wouldn't it be as well therefore to ask some other person of note to come and see you and could he succeed in getting you all right wouldn't it be nice here you ear by ear ale away throughout the whole length of spring and summer but you are neither so old nor so young so what will be the end of it besides it can't go on forever it's no use now you rejoined I know well enough that there's no cure for this complaint of mine not to speak of when I'm unwell why even when I'm not my state is such that one can see very well that there's no hope Bao Chai shook her head quite so she ventured and said those who eat live but what you've all alone eaten hasn't been enough to strengthen your energies and physique this isn't a good thing hi Dai Yu heaved a sigh whether I'm to live or die is all destiny she said riches and honors are in the hands of heaven and human strength cannot suffice to forcibly get even them but my complaint is here seems to be far worse than in past years instead of any better while deploring a lot she coughed two or three times it struck me Bao Chai said that in that prescription of yours I saw yesterday there was far too much jinsen and cinnamon there are splendid tonics of course but too many heating things are not good I think that the first urgent thing to do is to ease the liver and gave tongue to the stomach when once the fire in the liver is reduced it will not be able to overcome the stomach and when once the digestive organs are free of ailment drink and food will be able to give nutriment to the human frame as soon as you get out of bed every morning take one ounce of burst nests of superior quality and five mace of sugar candy and prepare congee with them in a silver kettle when once you get into the way of taking this decaution you'll find it far more efficacious than medicines for it processes the highest verge for invigorating the vagina and bracing up the physique you've certainly always treated people with extreme consideration but such a supremely suspicious person am I that I imagined that you inwardly concealed some evil design yet ever since the day on which you represented to me how unwholesome it was to read obscene books and you gave me all that good advice I felt most grateful to you I've hitherto in fact, been mistaken in my opinion and the truth of the matter is under this misconception up to the very present but you must carefully consider that when my mother died I hadn't even any sisters or brothers and that up to this my 15th year there has never been a single person to admonish me as you did the other day little wonder is it if that girl Yun speaks well of you whenever in former days I heard her he praise upon you I felt uneasy in my mind but after my experiences of yesterday I see how right she was when you for instance began to tell me all those things I didn't forgive you at the time but without worrying yourself in the least about it, you went on contrary wise to tender me the advice you did this makes it evident that I have labored under a mistaken idea had I not made this discovery the other day I wouldn't be speaking like this to your very face today you told me a few minutes back to take Perse Nest Kanji but Perse Nests are I admit easily procured yet all on account of my secular constitution and of the relapses I have every year of this complaint of mine which amounts to nothing doctors have had to be sent for medicines with ginseng and cinnamon have had to be concocted and I've given already such trouble as to turn heaven and earth topsy-turvy so where I now to start again a new fact by having some Perse Nests Kanji or other prepared I will worthy senior Madam Wang and Lady Feng will all three of them have no objection to this but that per se of matrons and maids below will unavoidably despise me former excessive fussiness just notice how everyone in here all goes widely like tigers they pray and stealthily says one thing and another simply because they see how fond our worthy ancestor is of both Baoyu and Lady Feng and how much more she thinks with me what's more I'm not a pocket mistress I've really come here as a mere refugee for I am no one to sustain me and no one to depend upon they already bear me considerable dislike so much so that I'm still quite at a loss whether I should stay or go and why should I make them heap execrations upon me well in that case Baochai observed you in the same plight as yourself how can you compare yourself with me that are you exclaimed you have a mother and a brother as well you've also got some business and land in here and at home you can call houses and fuse your own it's only therefore the ties of relationship which make you stay here at all neither are you in anything with a large or small single cash or even half of one and when you want to go you are liberty to go but I have nothing whatever that I can call my own yet in what I eat where and use I am in every travel entirely on the same footing as the young ladies in their household so however can that mean a lot not despise me out and out the only extra expense they will have to go to buy and buy Baochai laughed would be to get one more trousseau that's all and for the present it's too soon yet to worry yourself about that at this insinuation that are you unconsciously blushed scarlet won't risk you she smiled as a decent sort of person and confides in you the walls of one's heart of sympathising with me you make me the means of raising a laugh or that I raise a laugh at your expense Baochai rejoined a smile curling her lips what I say is nonetheless true but compose your mind I'll try every day that I'm here to cheer you up so come to me with every reference or trouble for I shall needness to say dispel those that are within my power notwithstanding that I have a brother you yourself know well enough what he's like all I have is a mother so I'm just a triple better off than you you can therefore well look upon ourselves as being in the same boat and sympathise with each other you have besides plenty of words about you so why need you give way to groans as did Sima Mew what you said just now is quite right but you should worry and fret about as little and not as much as you can on my return home tomorrow I'll tell my mother and as I think there must be still some burst nest in our house you'll send you several answers of them you can then tell the servants' mates to prepare some for you at whatever time you want every day and you'll thus be suiting your own convenience and be giving no trouble or annoyance to anyone the things are of themselves of little account equally responded die you laughingly what's difficult to find is one with as much feeling as yourself what's there in this worth speaking about Balchai said what grieves me is that I fail to be as nice as I should be with those I come across but I presume you feel quite done up now so I'll be off come in the evening again die you pressed her and have a chat with me while assuring her that she would come Balchai walked out so let us leave her alone for the present die you meanwhile drank a few sips of thin congee and then once more lay herself down on her bed but before the sun set the weather unexpectedly changed and a fine drizzling rain set in so gently come the optimum showers that thou and fine are subject to uncertain alterations the shades of trilites gradually fell on this occasion the heavens too got so overcast as to look deep black besides the effect of this change on her mind on the bamboo tops intensified her despondency and concluding that Balchai would be deterred from coming she took up in the lamp light the first book within her reach which turned out to be the treasury of a miscellaneous lyrics finding among these the pinings of a maiden in optimum the anguish of separation and other similar poems Dai Yu felt unawares much affected and unable to restrain herself from giving vent to her feelings in writing she there and then improvised the following stanza in the same string as the one on separation complying with the rules observed in the spring river flower and moonlight night these verses should then entitled on the optimum evening when wind and rain raged outside window the burden was in optimum flowers decay pervades when optimum comes doth yellow turn on all autumnal nights the optimum lanterns with bright radiance earn as from my window optimum scenes I scan optimum endless doth seem this mood how can I bear when wind and rain despondency enhance how sudden break forth wind and rain and have to make the optimum tide fright snaps my optimum dreams those dreams which under my lettuce I dreamt I set optimum room and claps my heart and drives all sleep away in person I approached the optimum screen to snuff the weeping wick the tfo candles with flickering flame consume on their short stands they stir up grief dazzle my eyes and a sense of parting arouse in what family's courts do not the blasts of optimum winds intrude and where in optimum does not ring better against the window frames the silken quilt cannot ward off the nipping force of optimum winds the drip of the half drained water clock impels the optimum rains a loaf of few nights rains but the wind has again risen in strength by the lantern I weep as if I sat with someone who must go the small courtyard full of bleak mist quite desolate with quick drip drops the rain on the distant bamboos and vacant seals what time I wonder will the wind and rain their how and better seas the tears already I have shed have soaked through the window course after scanning her verses she flung the pen aside and was just on the point of retiring to rest when a waiting mate announced that Master Secundus Mr. Bao Yu had come barely was the announcement out of her lips then Bao Yu appeared on the scene with a large bamboo head on his head and a wrapper thrown over his shoulders of a sudden a smile betrayed itself on Dai Yu's lips where does this fisherman come from she exclaimed are you better today Bao Yu inquired with elabority have you had any medicines how much rice have you had to eat today while plying her with questions he took off the head and divested himself of the wrapper and promptly raising the lamp with one hand he screened it with the other and threw its rays upon Dai Yu's face then streaming his eyes he scrutinized her for a while you look better today he smiled as soon as he threw off his wrapper Dai Yu noticed that he was clad in a short red silk jacket towards for wear that he was girded with a green sash and that about his knees his net garments were visible made of green thin silk brocaded with flowers below this he wore embroidered gauze socks worked all over with twisted gold thread and a pair of shoes ornamented with butterflies and clusters of fallen flowers above you fight shine of the rain Dai Yu remarked but aren't these shoes and socks below afraid of rain yet they are quite clean this suit is complete Bao Yu smiled like a crabwood claw I put on to come over but I took them off under the eaves of the revender Dai Yu's attention was then attracted by the extreme fineness and likeness of the texture of his wrapper and head which were unlike those sold in the market places with what grass are they plated she consequently asked it would be strange if you didn't with this sort of thing you look like a very hedgehog these three articles are a gift from the Prince of Beijing Bao Yu answered ordinarily when it rains he too wears this kind of outfit at home but if it has taken your fancy I'll have a suit made for you there's nothing peculiar about the other things but this hat is funny the crown at the top is movable so if you want to wear a hat during snowy weather in wintertime you pull off the bamboo pegs and remove the crown and there you only have the circular brim this is one when it snows by men and women alike I'll give you one therefore to wear in the wintery snowy months I don't want it after Dai Yu were I to wear this sort of thing I'd look like one of those official women one sees depicted in pictures or represented on the stage upon reaching this point she remembered that there was some connection between her present remarks and the comparison she had some time back made with regard to Bao Yu and before she had time to indulge in regrets a sense of shame so intense overpowered her that the color rushed to her face and leaning her head on the table she coughed and coughed till she could not stop Bao Yu however did not detect her embarrassment but catching sight of some verses lying on the table he eagerly snatched them up and called them from beginning to end splendid he could not help crying but the moment Dai Yu heard his exclamation he jumped to her feet and clutched the verses and burnt them over the lamp I've already committed them sufficiently to memory Bao Yu laughed I want to have a little rest Dai Yu said so please get away come back again tomorrow at these words Bao Yu drew back his hand and producing from his breast a gold watch about the size of a walnut he looked at the time the hand pointed between 8 and 9 p.m so hastily putting it away Yu should certainly retire to rest he replied my visit has upset you I've quite tired you out this long while with his apologies he threw the wrapper over him put on the ring head and quitted the room he retraced his steps inside is there anything you fancy to eat? he asked if there be, tell me and I'll let our venerable ancestor know of it tomorrow as soon as it's day won't I explain things clearer than any of the old patrons could? let me rejoin Dai Yu smiling think in the night I'll let you know early tomorrow but Hakan feeling harder than it did so be off at once have you got any attendance or no? yes interposed the two matrons there are servants to wait on him they're outside holding his umbrella and lighting the lanterns are they lighting lanterns with this weather? left Dai Yu it won't hurt them Bao Yu answered they are made of sheep's horn so they don't mind the rain hearing this Dai Yu put back to her hand and digging down an ornamental glass lantern in the shape of a ball from a bookcase she asked the servants to light a small candle and bring it to her after which she handed the lantern to Bao Yu this she said gives out more likes than the others and it's just the thing for rainy weather I've also got one like it Bao Yu replied but fearing less they might slip fall down and break it I did not have it lighted and brought around what's of more account? Dai Yu inquired harm to a lantern or to a human being you are not besides accustomed to wearing clothes so tell them to walk ahead with those lanterns this one is as light and handy as it is light giving and is really adapted for rainy weather so wouldn't it be well if you carried it yourself? you can send it over to me tomorrow but wear it even to slip from your hand it wouldn't matter much I will say that you've also suddenly developed this money-grabbing sort of temperament it's as bad as if you ripped your intestines to secret pearls in after these words Bao Yu approached her and took the lantern from her I had then advanced to Matrons with umbrellas and ship horn lanterns and behind followed a couple of wigging mates also with umbrellas Bao Yu handed the glass lantern to a young maid to carry and supporting himself on her shoulder his straightway went the steps on his way back she left an old servant from the Heng Wu Court provided as well with an umbrella and a lantern to bring over a large bundle of bird's nests and a packet of foreign sugar pure as powder and white as petals of plum blossom and flakes of snow these she said are much better than what you can buy our young lady sends you word miss to first go on with these when you've done with them she'll let you have some more many thanks for the trouble you've taken Bao Yu returned for answer and then asked her to go and sit outside and have a cup of tea I won't have any tea the old servant smiled I've got something else to attend too I'm well aware that you've all got plenty in hand Bao Yu resumed with a smiling face but the weather being cool now and the night's long it's more expedient than ever to establish two things a nightclub and a gambling place I won't disguise the fact from you miss the old servant lovingly observed that I've managed this year to win plenty of money several servants have under any circumstances to do night duty and as any neglect in keeping watch wouldn't be the right thing isn't it as well to have a nightclub as one can sit on the lookout and dispel doubtness as well but it's again my turn to play the group here today so I must be getting along to the place as the garden gate will by this time be nearly closing this rejoinder evoked a laugh from Da Yu I've given you all this in order, she remarked and made you lose your chances of getting money just to bring these things in the rain and calling a servant, she pay her present her with several hundreds of cash to buy some wine worth to drive the damn away I've uselessly put you again miss, to the expense of giving me a tip for wine the old servant smiled but saying this she knocked her forehead before her outside, she received the money after which she opened her umbrella and trudged back Di Juan meanwhile put the burst nest away and removing afterwards the lamps she lowered the portiers and waited upon Da Yu until she lay herself down to sleep while she reclined all along on her pillow Da Yu thought gracefully of Bao Chai at one moment, she envied her for having a mother and a brother and at another she mused that with the friendliness Bao Yu had ever shown her they were bound to be the victims of suspicion but the bitter patter of the rain dripping on the bamboo tops and banana leaves fell on her ear and as a fresh coolness penetrated the curtain tears once more unconsciously trickled down her cheeks in this frame of mind she continued straight up to the fourth watch when she at last gradually dropped into a silent sleep for a time however, there is nothing that we can add so should you either decide to know any subsequent details peruse what is written in the next chapter end of section 41