 Section 31 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. The Dream of the Red Chamber. Book 2 by Jiao Xu Ting. Translated by Han Vi Bankraft Joli. Chapter 40, Part 2. Hoku Diliu watched Li Wen and Lady Feng sit opposite each other and eat. Putting everything else aside, she signed, what most takes my fancy is the way things are done in your mansion. It isn't to be wondered as that the adage has said that, propriety originates from great families. Don't be too touchy. Lady Feng Hasteley smiled. We all make fun of you just now. But barely had she done speaking when Yuan Yang Tu walked in. Hoku Diliu, she said loudly. Don't be angry. I tender you my apologies, vulnerable day. What are you saying, miss? Hoku Diliu rejoined smiling. We have caused our Dowager Lady to get a little distraction and what reason is there to be angry? From the very first moment you spoke to me, I knew at once that it was intended to afford merriment to you all. Had I been angry at heart, I wouldn't have gone so far as to say what I did. Yuan Yang then blew up the servants. Why, she shouted, don't you pour a cup of tea for the old day? That sister-in-law promptly explained Hoku Diliu gave me a cup a little while back. I've had it already. But you, miss, must also have something to eat. Lady Feng dragged Yuan Yang into a seat. Have your meal with us, she said. You'll just save another fuss by and by. Yuan Yang readily seated herself. The matrons came up and added to the number of bowls and chopsticks and a trill went through their meal. From all I see smiled Hoku Diliu. You people eat just a little and finish. It's lucky you don't feel the pains of hunger. But it isn't astonishing if a whiff of wind can puff you over. A good man eatables remained over the day. Where are they all gone to? Yuan Yang inquired. They haven't as yet been apportioned. The matrons responded. They kept in here until they can be given in a lump to them to eat. They can't get through so many things. Yuan Yang resumed. We will head as well. They will choose two bowls and send them over to that girl, Ping, in your mistress's secondest rooms. She has had her be passed long ago. Lady Feng put in. There is no need to give her any. With what she can't eat herself, Yuan Yang continued. She can feed the cats. As these words a matron lost no time in selecting two sorts of eatables and taking the box, she went to take them over. Where's Shu Yuan went to? Yuan Yuan asked. They are all in here having them meal together. They went replied. What do you want her for again? Well in that case never mind. Yuan Yang answered. Zhou Yuan isn't here. Lady Feng observed. So tell someone to take her a few things. Yuan Yang hearing this directed a servant to send her also a few eatables. After the partition boxes been filled with wine for by and by, Yuan Yang went on to ask the matrons. They'll be ready I think in a little while. A matron explained. Read them up a bit. Yuan Yang added. The matron signified her ascent. Lady Feng and her friends then came into Tang Chun's apartments where they found the ladies chatting and loving. Tang Chun had ever shown an inclination for plenty of room. Hence that suite of three apartments had never been partitioned. In the center was placed a large table of rosewood and Dali marble. On this table were laid in a heap every kind of copy slips written by persons of note. Several tens of variable ink slabs and various specimens of cubes and receptacles of pens figured also about. The pens in which were as thickly packed as trees in a forest. On the offside stood a flower bowl from the Ruqiu as large as a bushel measure. In it was placed till it was quite full. A bunch of white resettlements in appearance like crystal bowls. In the middle of the west wall was suspended a large picture representing vapor and rain. The handiwork of Mi Xiang Yang. On the left and right of this picture was hung a pair of antithetical scrolls. The autograph of Yan Lu. The lines on these scrolls were wild scenes out of the taste of those who leisurely love. And strings and rookries are their rustic result. On the table figured a large tripod. On the left stood on a blackwood cabinet a huge bowl from a renowned government Qiong. This bowl contained about ten Buddha's hands of beautiful yellow and fine proportions. On the right was suspended on a Japanese liquid frame a white jade sonorous plate. Its shape resembled two eyes. One by the side of the other. Next to it hung a small hammer. Banger had become a little more confident and was about to seize the hammer and beat the plate. When waiting mates hastened to prevent him. Next he wanted a Buddha's hand to eat. Tuan Chun choose one and let him have it. You may play with it. She said. But you can't eat it. On the east side stood a sleeping divan. On a moveable bed was hung a league green ghost curtain ornamented with double emboideries representing flowers plants and insects. Banger ran up to have a look. This is a green cicada. He shouted. This is a grasshopper. But okutu Liu promptly gave him a slap. You mean scam. She cried. What an awful rumpus you are kicking up. I simply brought you along with me to look at things. And low you put on airs. And she beat Banger until he burst out crying. It was only after everyone quickly combined in using the efforts to solace him that he at length desisted. Only the jar then looked through the ghost casement into the backcourt for some time. The Triangular trees by the eaves of the covered passage are growing alright. She remarked. The only thing is that their foliage is part of spars. But while she passed this remark, a sudden gust of wind swept by and faintly on her ear fell the strains of music. In whose house is there a wedding? Only the jar inquired. This place must be very near the street. How could one hear what's going on in the street when Wang and the others smiled? Is our 12 girls practicing on their wind and string instruments? As they are practicing, Dao Jiali the jar eagerly cried smilingly. Why not ask them to come in here and practice? They will be able to have a stroll also while we on our part will derive some enjoyment. Upon hearing this suggestion, Liddy Feng immediately directed a sermon to go out and call them in. She further issued orders to bring a table and spread a red cover over it. Let it be put, only the jar chimed in, in the water pavilion of the lotus fragrance arbor. For the music will borrow the ripple of the stream and sound ever so much more pleasant to the ear. We can by and by drink our wine in the juijin hall who does have ample room and be able to listen from close. Everyone admitted that the spot was well adapted. Dao Jiali the jar turned herself towards Mrs. Xie. Let's get ahead, she laughed. The young ladies don't like anyone to come in here. For fear less the quarters should get contaminated so don't let us show ourselves this regardful of their wishes. The right thing would be to go and have our wine aboard one of those boats. As she spoke one and all rose to their feet. They were making their way out when Tan Chen interposed. Was this that you are saying? She smiled. Please do sit yourselves when they're both senior and you Mrs. Xie and Madam Wang. You can't be going yet. These three girls of mine are really nice. There are only two mistresses that are simply dreadful. Dao Jiali the jar said smilingly. When we get drunk shortly we will go and sit in their rooms and have a look. These words evoked laughter from everyone. In the body they quitted to place but they had not proceeded far before they reached the bank covered with aquatic plants to which place the boat women who had been brought from Ushu had already punted to Crabwood boats. In one of these boats they had only the jar, Madam Wang, Mrs. Xie, Ogudu Liu, Yun Yang and Yue Chunor. Last in order Li Wen followed on board but Lady Feng too stepped in and standing up on the bow she insisted upon the punting. Dao Jiali the jar however demonstrated from her seat in the bottom of the boat. This isn't a joke she cried when not on the river is true but there are some very deep places about so be quick and come in do it for my sake. What's there to be afraid of Lady Feng left compose your mind with the ancestor saying this the boat was pushed off with one show when it reached the middle of the lake Lady Feng became nervous for the craft was small and occupants many and hastily handing the pole to a boat woman so squatted down at last. Ying Chun her sisters their cousins as well as Bao Yu subsequently caught on board the second boat and followed in their track while the rest of the company consisting of old nurses and a bag of waiting mates kept pace with them along the bank of the stream. All these broken lotus leaves are dreadful Bao Yu shouted why don't you yet tell the servants to pull them off when was this garden left quiet during all the days of this year Bao Chai smiled why people have come day after day to visit it so was there ever any time to tell the servants to come and clean it I have the greatest abhorrence Lin Dai Yu shined in for Li Yi's political words but there's only this line in them which I like leave the dry lotus leaves so as to hear the patter of the rain and here you people deliberately mean again not to leave the dry lotus stay where they are this is indeed a fine line Bao Yu exclaimed we mustn't hear after let them pull them away while this conversation continued they reached the surely inlet under the flower laden beach they felt a coolness from the shady overgrowth penetrates their very bones the decaying vegetation and withered aquatic chestnut plants on the sand bank enhanced to a greater degree the beauty of the optimum scenery that was really jar at this point observed some spotless rooms on the bank so speak and so span are not these mischievous quarters she asked yes they are everybody answered only the job promptly bait them go alongside and went in their way up the marble steps which seemed to lead to the clouds they in a body ended the Heng Wu caught here they felt a peculiar perfume come wefting into their nostrils for the colder the season got the green grew that strange vegetation and those very like creepers the various plants were laden with seeds which closely resembled red coral beams as they dropped in lovely clusters the house as soon as they put their foot into it presented the aspect of a snow cave there was a total absence of every object of ornament on the table figured merely an earthen where was in which were placed several percent of months a few books and tea cups were also conspicuous but no further nicknacks on the bed was suspended a green course curtain and of equally extreme planers where the cobalates and mattresses belonging to it this child largely the job site is too simple if you've got nothing to lay about why not ask your aunt for a few articles I would never raise any objection I never thought about them your things of course have been left at home and have not been brought over so say she told Yuan Yang to go and fetch several brick-a-brack she next went on to call lady phone to task she herself wouldn't have them lady phone rejoined we really sent over a few but she refused every one of them and returned them in her home also smiled mrs. share she does not go in very much for such sort of things only the job not at her head it will never do she added it does is true safe trouble but with some relative to come on a visit she'll find things in an impossible way in the second place such simplicity in the apartments of young ladies of tender age is quite unproperuous why if you young people go on in this way we old fogies should go further and live in stables we've all heard what is said in those books and plays about the dreadful luxury with which young ladies quarters are got up and though these girls of ours could not presume to place themselves on the same footing as those young ladies they shouldn't nevertheless exceed too much the bounds of what constitutes the right thing if they have any objects ready at hand why shouldn't they lay them out and if they have any strong predilection for simplicity a few things less will do quite as well I've always had the greatest neck for tidying a room but being an old woman now I haven't the ease and inclination to attend to such things these clothes are however learning how to do things very nicely I was afraid that there would be an appearance of vulgarity in what they did and that even had they anything worth having they so placed them about as to spoil them but from what I can see there's nothing vulgar about them but let me now put things right for you and I will do that everything will look grand as well as plain I've got a couple of my own knickknacks which I've managed to keep to this day by not allowing Bao Yu to get a glimpse of them for had he ever seen them they too would have long ago disappeared continuing she called union fetch that marble pot with a scenery on it she said to her that cause screen and that tripod of transparent stone with black streaks which we'll find in there and lay out all three on this table they will be ample bring likewise those ink pictures and white silk curtains and change these curtains union expressed her obedience all these articles have been put away in the eastern loft she smiled in what boxes they've been put I couldn't tell I must therefore go and find them quietly and if I bring them over tomorrow it will be time enough tomorrow or the day after will do very well but don't forget that's all that your lady job urged while conversing they said for a while presently they left the rooms and repaired straight away into the jiejin hall when one and the other girls came up and paid their obeisance they next inquired what sounds they were to practice you better choose a few pieces to rehearse out of those you know best only the job rejoined when one and her companions then withdrew and betook themselves to the lotus fragrance pavilion but we will leave them there without further allusion to them during this while lady phone had already with the help of servants got everything in perfect order on the left and right of the side of honor were placed two events these events were completely covered with embroidered covers and fine variegated mats in front of each event stood two liquor teapots inlaid some with designs of crap apple flowers others of plum blossom some of lotus leaves others of sunflowers some of these teapots were square others round the shapes were all different on each was placed a set consisting of a stove and a bottle also a box with partitions the two events and four teapots in the place of honor were used by Daojo Lady Jia and Mrs. Che the chair and two teapots in the next best place by Madam Wang the rest of the inmates had all alike a chair and a teapot on the east side set all good deal below all good deal came madam Wang and the West was seated Chi Xiangyun the second place was occupied by Bao Chai the third by Dai Yu the fourth by Ying Chun Tang Chun and Xi Chun filled the lower seats in the proper order Bao Yu set in the last place the two teapots assigned to Li Wen and Lady Feng stood within the third line of railings and beyond the second road of course frames the pattern of the partition boxes corresponded likewise with the pattern on the teapots each image had a black decanter with silver inlaid in foreign designs as well as an ornamented inland mood cup after they had all occupied the seats assigned to them Daojo Lady Jia took the initiative and smilingly suggested let's begin by drinking a couple of cups of wine but we should also have a game of four feats today we'll have plenty of fun then you venerable senior must certainly have a good wine order to impose Mrs. Che lively observed but how could we ever comply with it but if your aim between toxic case arts why we'll all straight away drink one or two cups more than is good for us and finish here's Mrs. Che's beginning to be modest again today only they just smiled but I expect it's because she looks down upon me as being an old hag it isn't modesty Mrs. Che replied smiling it's all a dread lest I shouldn't be able to observe the order and thus incur reticule if you don't give the right answer madam one promptly interposed with a smile you only have to drink a cup or two more of wine and should we get drunk we can go to sleep and who will pray laugh at us Mrs. Che noted her head I will agree to the order she left but dear senior you must after all do the right thing and have a cup of wine to start it this is quite natural only the job answered a lovingly and with these words she thought with emptied a cup lady from with hurried steps advanced to the center of the room if we are to play at four feats she's smilingly proposed we'd better invite sister Yuanyang to come and join us the whole company was perfectly aware that if doubt your lady jar had to give out the rule of four feats Yuanyang would necessarily have to suggest it so the moment they heard the proposal they with common consent approved it as excellent little bone therefore there and then drag it Yuanyang over as you to take part in the game of four feats madam one smilingly observed there's no reason why you should stand up and turning her head around bring over she beat a young waiting mate a chair and place it at your mistress seconder's table Yuanyang half refusing and half ascending expressed her thanks and took the seat after partaking also a cup of wine drinking rules she smiled resemble very much martial law so irrespective of high or low I alone will be signed anyone therefore would disobey my words will have to suffer a penalty of course it should be so madam Wong and the others left so be quick and give out the rule but before you and young had as yet opened her lips to speak Oguji Liu left the table and within her hand don't she said make fun of people in this way for I will go home this will never do one and all smilingly protested Yuanyang shouted to the young waiting mates to drag her back to her table and the mates while also indulging in laughter actually pulled her and compelled her to rejoin the banquet spare me Oguji Liu kept on crying spare me anyone who says one word more Yuanyang exclaimed will be fine a whole decanter fool Oguji Liu then at length observed silence I'll not give out a set of dominoes Yuanyang proceeded I'll begin from our valuable mistress and follow down in proper order until I come to Oguji Liu when I shall stop so as to illustrate what I meant just now by giving out a set I'll take these three dominoes and place them apart you have to begin by saying something on the first next to a loot to the second and after finishing with all three to take the name of the whole set and match it with a line no matter whether it be from some stanza or runderlay song or etio set phrases or problems but they must rhyme and anyone making a mistake will be mocked in one cup this rule is splendid begin at once they all exclaimed I've got a set Yuanyang pursued on the left is the piece heaven that is 12 dots above head scratches the blue heaven out lady jar said good shout to everyone in the center is a five and six Yuanyang resumed the fragrance of the plum blossom pierces the bones on the bridge six already I added then I remains Yuanyang explained one piece the six and one from among the freezy clouds issues the wheel like who said son out lady jar continued the whole combined Yuanyang observed forms the devil with the shelled hair this devil clasps the leg of the Zhongkui devil already jar observed at the conclusion of her recitation they all burst out laughing capital they shouted already jar drink a cup Yuanyang then went on to remark I've got another set the one on the left is a double five but after part of the plum bloom dances in the wind Mrs. Shea replied the one on the right is a 10 spot Yuanyang pursued in the 10th moon the plum bloom on the heels emits its fragrant smell Mrs. Shea added the middle piece is the two and five making the unlike seven Yuanyang observed the spinning damsel star meets the cowherd of the Eve of the seventh day of the seventh moon Mrs. Shea said together they form air down throws on the five months Yuanyang continued mortals cannot be as happy as immortals Mrs. Shea rejoined her answers over the whole company extolled them and had a drink I've got another set Yuanyang once more exclaimed on the left are distinctly the distance dots of the double A's both Sun and moon are so suspended as to shine on heaven and earth Cheng Yun ventured on the right are a couple of spots far apart which clearly form one and one Yuanyang pursued what time a lonesome flower falls to the ground no sound is audible Chang Yun rejoined in the middle there is the one and four Yuanyang added the red apricot tree is planted by the Sun and leans against the clouds Chang Yun answered together they form the cherry fruit ripens for the night time Yuanyang said in the imperial garden it is packed by birds Chang Yun replied when she had done with her part she drank a cup of wine I've got another set Yuanyang began the one on the left is a double three the swallows pair by pair chatter on the beams by a child remarked the right piece is a six Yuanyang added the marshmallow is stretched by the breeze even to the length of a green sash by a child returned the centerpiece is a three and six making a nine-spot Yuanyang pursued the three hills tower half beyond the sewers skies by a child rejoined lumped together they form a chain bound solitary boat Yuanyang resumed where there are wind and waves there I feel sad Bao Chai answered when she had finished her turn and drained her cup Union went on again on the left she said there is a heaven a morning fine and beautiful scenery but alas what a day for me now you replied when this line fell on Bao Chai's ear she turn her head around and cast a glance at her but that you are so nervous bless she should have to pay a forfeit that she did not so much as notice her in the middle there's the color of the embroidered screen that is 10 spots 4 and 6 it's beautiful Union proceeded not even home down to the ghost window comes any message to brain that you responded then I remains a two and six X in all Union resumed tries to see the JD throne when left in to perform the court ritual I replied together they form a basket suitable for putting plucked flowers in Union continued the ferry when smells nice as only hangs a peony that you retorted it's the close of the replies she took a sip of wine Union then resumed on the left she said there's a four and five making a different combined nine the peach blossoms bear heavy drops of rain Yinchun remarked the company laughed she must be fine they exclaimed she has made a mistake in the rhyme besides it isn't right Yinchun smiled and drank a sip the fact is that both Ladyfong and Yunyang were so eager to hear the funny things that would be uttered by all good to do that they with one voice purposely rude at everyone answered wrong and find them when they came to Madam Wang's turn Union recited something for her next followed oh good deal you when we country people have got nothing to do oh good deal you said a few of us to often come together and play this sort of game but the answers we give are not so high-flung yet as I can't get out of it I'll likewise make a try is easy enough to say what there is one and all laughed so just you go on and don't mind on the left Yunyang smiled there's a double four that is man good deal listened intently after considerable reflection it's a peasants she cried one and all in the room blurted out laughing well said largely legit observed with a laugh that's the way all the country people know oh good deal proceeded also laughing it's just what comes within our own rough and ready wits so young ladies and ladies pray don't poke fun at me in the center there's the three and four green matched with red Yunyang pursued the large fire burns the hairy caterpillar oh good deal ventured this will do very well the party laughed go on with what is in your line on the right Yunyang smilingly continued there's one and four it is really pretty a turnip and a head of garlic oh good deal answered this reply evoked further laughter from the whole company all together is a twig of flowers Yunyang ended laughing the flower dropped and a huge melon formed oh good deal observed while gesticulating with both her hands by way of illustration the party once more exploded in loud merriment but reader if you anything any curiosity to hear what else was said during the banquet listen to the explanation given in the next chapter and of section 31 section 32 of the dream of the red chamber book 2 this is a Librebox recording all Librebox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit Librebox.org recording by Yunqing in Singapore the dream of the red chamber book 2 by Cao Jieqin translated by Perry Bancroft Jolly chapter 41 part 1 Jia Bao Yu tastes tea in the Long Cui monastery old goodie Liu gets drunk and falls asleep in the Yihong court old goodie Liu so the story goes exclaimed while making signs with both hands the flower drops and a huge melon formed to the intense amusement of all the inmates who burst into a boisterous fit of laughter in due course however she drank the closing cup then she made another effort to evoke merriment to speak the truth today she's mildly observed my hands my feet are so rough and I've had so much wine that I must be careful or else I might by a slip of the hand break the porcelain cups if I've got any wooden cups you'd better produce them it wouldn't matter then if even they were to slip out of my hands and drop on the ground this joke excited some more mirth but Lady Feng upon hearing this speedily put on a smile well she said if you really want a wooden one I'll fetch you want at once but there's just one word I'd like to tell you beforehand wooden cups are not like porcelain ones they go in sets so you'll have to do the right thing and drink from every cup of the set I just now simply spoke in jest about those cups in order to induce them to laugh or to deal at these words mused within herself but who would have thought that she actually has some of the kind I've often been to the large households of village entry on a visit and even been to bankers there and seen both gold cups and silver cups but never have I've held any women once about ah of course they must I expect be the wooden balls used by the young children their objects must be to unveil me to have a couple of ball falls more than is good for me but I don't mind it the wine is fairly like honey so if I drink a little more it won't do me any harm bringing this train of thought to a close that's them she said allowed we'll talk about them by and by lady phone then directed funer to go and bring the set of ten cups made of bamboo roots from the bookcase in the front in a room upon hearing her orders funer was about to go and execute them when you young smilingly interposed I know those ten cups of yours she remarked there's more what's more a while back you mentioned wooden ones and if you have bamboo ones brought now it won't look well so it better get from our place that set of ten large cups scooped out of the whole blocks of aspen roots and pull the contents of all ten of them down her throat yes there will be much better maybe for a smile the cups were then actually brought by a servant at the direction of you and young at the site of them old goodie was filled with surprise as well with admiration surprise as the ten formed one set going in gradation from large to small the largest being amply of the size of a small basin smallest even measuring two of those she held in her hand admiration as they were all alike engraved in perfect style with scenery trees and human beings and born inscriptions in the grass character as well as the seal of the writer it will be enough she consequently shouted with a lack of tea if you can meet that small one there's no one lady phone laughingly insinuated with the capacity to tackle these hence it is that not a soul can pluck up courage enough to use them but as you old them asked for them and they were fished out after ever so much trouble you're bound to do the proper thing and drink out of each one after the other all good in law was quite taken aback i daren't she promptly demurred my dear lady don't let me off dowager lady jah mrs. shu and madam wong were quite alive to the fact that the person advanced in years as she was could not be gifted with such powers of endurance and they hastened to smiley expose too late to speak is to speak and a joke is a joke but she meant take too much they said let her just empty this first cup and have done i'm your tour for ejaculated all goody little i'll only have a small cup full and put this huge fellow away and take it home and drink in my leisure at this remark the whole company one small gateway to laughter me young had no alternative but to give in and she had to bid a servant fill a large cup full of wine all goody little laid hold of it with both hands and raised it to her mouth gently a bit all raise ya and mrs. shu shouted mind you don't choke mrs. shu then told lady fun to put in vines before her goody little smiled lady fun tell me the name of anything you fancy and i'll bring it and feed you what names can i know oh goody little rejoined everything is good bring some eggplant and salt fish for her dow a jelly did ya suggested with a smile lady fun upon hearing this suggestion complied with it by catching some eggplant and salt fish with two chopsticks and putting them into old goody little's mouth you people she smiled daily feed on eggplants so taste these about us and see whether they've been nicely prepared or not don't be making a fool of me old goody little answered smilingly if eggplants can have such flavor we ourselves needed so any cereals but can find ourselves to grow in nothing but eggplants they are really eggplants one and all protested she's not pulling your leg old goody little was amazed if these be actually eggplants she said i've uselessly eaten them so long but my lady do you give me a few more i like to taste the next mouth for carefully lady fun brought her in every deed another lot and put it in her mouth old goody little munched for long with particular care there is it's true something about them of the flavor of eggplant she laughingly remarked yet they don't quite taste like eggplants but tell me how they're cooked so that i may prepare them in the same way for myself there's nothing hard about it lady fun answered smiling you take the newly cut eggplants and pair the skin off all you want then is some fresh meat you hash it into fine mince and fry it in chicken fat there you take some dried chicken meat and mix it with mushrooms new bamboo shoots sweet mushrooms dried been cut paste flavored with five spices and every kind of dry fruits and you chop the whole lot into fine pieces you then bake all these things in chicken broth until it's absorbed when you fry them to finish in sweet oil and adding some oil made of the grains of wine you place them in a porcelain jar and close it hermetically at any time that you want any to eat all you have to do is to take out some and mix it with some roasted chicken and there it is already old goodie liu shook her head and put out her tongue my Buddhist ancestor she shouted one wants about 10 chickens to prepare this dish it isn't strange then that it has this flavor saying this she quietly finished her wine but still she kept on minutely scrutinizing the cup haven't you yet had enough to satisfy you lady fun smiled if you haven't well then drink another cup dreadful eagerly exclaimed old goodie liu i shall be soon getting so drunk that it will be the very death of me i was only looking at it as i admire pretty things like this but what a trouble it must have caused to turn out have you're done with your wine you're young laughingly inquired but after all what kind of food is this cup made of it isn't to be wondered at or goodie liu smiled that you can't make it out miss however could you people who live inside golden doors and embroidered apartments know anything of wood we have the whole day longed the trees in the woods as our neighbors when wary we use them as our pillows and go to sleep on them when exhausted we sit with our backs leaning against them when in years of dirt we feel the pangs of hunger we also feed on them day after day we see them with our eyes day after day we listen to them with our ears day after day we talk of them with our mouths i am therefore well able to tell whether any wood be good or bad genuine or force do let me then see what it is as she spoke she intentionally scanned the cup for a considerable length of time such a family as yours she then said could on no account own mean things any wood that is easily procured we didn't even find a place in here this feels so heavy as i weigh it in my hands that if it isn't aspen it must for certainty be yellow cedar her rejoinder amused everyone in the room but then they perceived an old matron come up after asking permission of dowager lady jack to speak the young ladies she said have got the lotus fragrance for lillian and they request your commands as to whether they should start with the rehearsal at once or tarry a while i forgot all about them old lady job promptly cried with a smile tell them to begin rehearsing at once the matron expressed her obedience and walked away presently became audible the notes of the pan pipe and double flute now soft now loud and the blended accents of the pipe and life so balmy did the breeze happen to be and the weather's so fine that the strings of music came wafted across the arbors and over the stream and needless to say continues to exhilarate the spirit and to cheer their hearts unable to resist the temptation body was the first snatch at the counter and a thorough a cup for himself he coughed it with one breath then pouring another cup he was about to drain it when he noticed that madam wang too was anxious for a drink and that she made a servant to bring a warm supply of wine with alacrity bar you crossed over to her and presenting his own cup he applied it to madam wang's lips his mother drank two sips while he held it in his hands but on the arrival of the warm wine bar you resumed to see madam wang laid hold of the warm decanter and left the table while the whole party quitted the places at the banquet and mrs. shear too rose to her feet take over the decanter from her dowager lady jiao promptly shouted till the one and lady feng and press around into a seat which are all then feel at ease hearing this madam wang surrendered the decanter to lady feng and returned to her seat let's all have a couple of cups of wine only they are lovingly cried it's capital fun today with this proposal she laid hold of a cup and offered it to mrs. turning also towards xiang yun and baochai you two cousins she added must also have a cup your cousin lin can't take much wine but even she mustn't be let off while pressing them she drained her cup xiang yun baochai and daiyu then had their drink but about this time old goodie liu caught the strains of music and being already under the influence of liquor her spirits became more and more exuberant and she began to gesticulate and skip about her pranks amused by you to such a degree that leaving the table he crossed over to where daiyu was seated and observed laughingly just you look at the way old goodie liu is going on in days of yor daiyu smiled every species of animal commenced to dunce the moment the sounds of music broke forth she's like a buffalo now this similarly made her cousins laugh but shortly the music ceased we've all had our wine mrs. shui smilingly proposed so let's go and stroll about for a time okay now after that sit down again dao aja lady jia herself was at the moment feeling a strong inclination to have a ramble in due course therefore they all left the banquet and went with the road senior for a walk dao aja lady jia however long to take goodie liu along with her to help her dispel her onui so promptly seizing the old same's hands and hers they threaded their way as far as the trees which stood facing the hill after lolling about with her for a few minutes what kind of tree is this she went on to inquire of her what kind of stone is this what species of flower is that old goodie liu gave suitable reply to each of her questions who would ever have imagined it she proceeded to tell dao aja lady jia not only are other human beings in the city grand but even the birds are grand why the moment these birds fly into your mansion they also become beautiful things and acquired the gift of speech as well the company could not make out to the drift her observations what birds get transformed into beautiful things and become able to speak they felt impelled to ask those pushed on those gold stands under the veranda with green plumage and red beaks are parrots i know them well enough goodie liu replied but those old black crowds in the cages there have crests like phoenixes they can talk too one and all loved but not long elapsed before they caught sight of several waiting mates who came to invite them to a collation after the number of cups of wine i've had old lady jia said i don't feel hungry but never mind bring the things here we can nibble something at our leisure the maize spirally went off and fetched two tea poise but they also brought a couple of small boxes with partitions when they came to be opened and to be examined the contents of each were found to consist of two kinds of vines in the one were two sorts of steamed easel balls one of these was a sweet cake made of lotus powder centered with sunflower the other being rolls with goose fat and fur comb seeds the second box contained two kinds of fried easel balls one of which was small dumplings about an inch in size what stuffing have they put in them dowry lady jia asked they're with crabs inside hastily rejoined the matrons the brody mistress at this reply knitted her eyebrows these fat greasy vines for such a time she observed who will ever eat these things but finding when she came to inspect the other kind that it consisted of small fruits of flour fashioned in every shape and fried in butter she did not fancy these either she then however pressed mrs shui to have something to eat but mrs shui merely took a piece of cake while dowry lady jia helped herself to a roll but after tasting a bit she gave the remaining half to your servant girl goody lil saw how beautifully worked these small flower fruits were made as they were in various colors and design and she took after picking and choosing one which looks like a peony the most ingenious girls in our village could not even with a pair of scissors cut out anything like this in paper she exclaimed i would like to eat it but i can't make up my mind too i had to better pack up a few and take them home and give them to them as specimens her remarks amused everyone when you start for home dowry lady jia said i'll give you a whole portion and jar full of them so you may as well to eat these first while they are hot the rest of the inmates selected such of the fruits as took their fancy but after they had helped themselves to one or two they felt satisfied goody lil however had never before touched such delicacies these were in addition made small dainty and without the least semblance of clumsiness so when she and a power had served themselves to a few of each sort half the contents of the dish vanished but what remained of them were then at the instance of lady feng put into two plates and sent together with a petition box to weng kuang and the other singing girls as their share at an unexpected moment they perceived the nurse come in with da jie in her arms and they all induced her to have a romp with them for a time but while da jie was holding a large pomelo and amusing herself with it she casually caught sight of power with a buddha hand da jie would have it a servant girl endeavoured to cook pangar to surrender it to her but da jie unable to cope her impatience burst out crying it was only after the pomelo had been given to pangar and that the buddha's hand had by dint of much humoring been got from pangar and given to her that she stopped crying pangar had played quite long enough with the buddha's hand and had at the moment his two hands laden with fruits which he was in the course of eating where he suddenly besides saw how scented and round the pomelo was the idea dawned on him that it was more handy for play and using it as a ball he kicked it along and went off to have some fun relinquishing at once every thought of the buddha's hand by this time da we jie lady jie and the other members had had tea so leading off again gulimil they threaded their way to the long-sway monastery myo yu hastened to usher them in on their arrival in the interior of the court they saw the flowers and trees and luxuriant blossom really smiled older lady jie it's those people who devote themselves to an ecstatic life and have nothing to do who manage by constant repairs to make their places much nicer than those of others as she spoke she wended her steps towards the eastern hall myo yu with her face beaming with smiles made way for her to walk in we've just been feeling ourselves with wines and meats da wa da lady jie observed and with the josses you've got in here we shall be guilty of profanity we'd better therefore sit here but give us some of that good tea of yours and we'll get off so soon as we have had a cup of it bao yu watched myo yu's movements intensely when he noticed her laid whole of a small tea tray fashioned in the shape of a peony made of red carved lacquer and inlaid with designs engulfed representing a dragon esconced in the clouds with the character longevity exhaust in its jaws a tray which contained a small multicolored cup with cover fabricated at the chung kiln and presented to his grandmother i don't care for liu auntie old lady jie exclaimed i know it but this is old junmei myo yu answered with a smile da wa da lady jie received the cup what water is this she went on to inquire it's free water collected last year myo yu added by way of reply old lady jie readily drank half a cup of the tea and smiling she profited to gui liu just you taste this tea she said gui liu drained the remainder with one drop it's good of course she remarked her laughingly but it's rather weak it would be far better where it brewed a little stronger da wa da lady jie and all the inmates laughed but subsequently each of them was handed a thin pure white covered cup all of the same make originating from the kuan kiln myo yu however soon gave a talk at bao chai's and da yu's leg poles and both quitted the apartment along with her but bao yu too quietly followed at their heels spying myo yu showed its two cousins into a side room bao chai take a seat in the court da yu seated herself on myo yu's rush mat and myo yu approached a stove found the fire and boiled some water with which she brewed another pot of tea bao yu walked in are you bent upon drinking your own private tea he smiled here you rush again to steal our tea the two girls laughed with one accord there's none for you but just as myo yu was going to fetch a cup she perceived an old tower's matron bring away the tea things which had been used in the upper rooms don't put that chung kiong tea cup by myo yu hastily shouted go and put it outside bao yu understood that it must be because old gudi liu had drunk out of it that she considered it too dirty to keep he then saw myo yu produced two other cups the one had an ear on the side on the ball itself were engraved in three characters calabash cup in the plain square writing after these followed a roll of small characters in the true style to the effect that the cup had been an obstacle much treasured by wang kai next came the second roll of small characters stating that in the course of the fourth moon of the fifth year of yuen feng of the song dynasty su shi of meishan had seen it in the secret palace this cup myo yu felt and handed to bao chai end of section 32 recording by cao yu qin in singapore section 33 of the dream of the red chamber book 2 this is a libra box recording all libra box recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit libra box.org recording by yu qin in singapore the dream of the red chamber book 2 by cao xue qin translated by henry bencroft jolly chapter 41 part 2 the other cup was in appearance as clumsy as it was small yet on it figured an engraved inscription consisting of sported rhinoceros cup in three sealed characters which bore the semblance of pendant pearls meo yu replenished this cup and gave it to daiyu and taking the green jade cup which she had on previous occasions often used for her own tea she folded and presented it to bao yu the rules observed in the world the adage says must be impartial baoyu smiled but while my two cousins are handling those antique and rare gems here am i with this course objects is this a course thing meo yu exclaimed why i'm making no outrageous statement when i say that i'm inclined to think that it is by no means certain that you could lay your hand upon any such course thing as this in your home do in the country as country people do the proverb says baoyu laughingly rejoined so when one gets in a place like this of yours one must naturally look down upon everything in the way of gold pearls jade and precious stones as coarse rubbish this statement highly delighted meo yu so much so that producing another capacious cup carved out of the whole bamboo root wish with its nine curves and ten rings with 20 knots in each ring resembled a quilled dragon here she said with her face beaming with smiles there only remains this one can you manage this large cup i can baoyu vehemently replied with high glee albeit you have the stomach to cackle all it holds meo yu laughed i haven't got so much she bring you to waste have you not heard how that the first cup is the taste cup the second the stupid thing for quenching one's thirst and the third the drink meo cup but were you now to go in for this huge cup why what more wouldn't that be at these words baochai daiyu and baoyu simultaneously indulged in laughter but meo yu seized the teapot and poured well-nigh a whole cupful of tea into the big cup baoyu tasted some carefully and found it in real truth so exceptionally soft and pure that he extolled it with incessant praise if you've had any teapot this time meo yu pursued with a serious expression about her face it's thanks to these two young ladies for had you come alone i wouldn't have given you any i'm well aware of this baoyu laughily rejoined so i too will receive no favor from your hands but simply express my thanks to these two cousins of mine and have done what you say makes your meaning clear enough meo yu said when she heard his reply is this room water from last year daiyu then inquired how is it smelled baoyu sardonically that a person like you can be such a bore as not to be able to discriminate water when you taste it this is snow collected from the plum blossom five years back when i was in the panxiang temple at shenmu all i got was that flower jar green as the devil's face full and as i couldn't make up my mind to part with it and drink it i interred it in the ground and only opened it this summer i've had some of it once before and this is the second time but how is it you didn't detect it when you put it to your lips has rainwater obtained a year back ever got such a soft and pure flavor and how possibly could it be drunk at all daiyu knew perfectly what a curious disposition she naturally had and she did not think it advisable to start any lengthy discussion with her nor did she feel justified to protect her stay so after sipping her tea she intimated to voucher her intention to go and they quit it the apartment baoyu gave a forced smile to miaoyu that cup he said is of course dirty but is it not a pity to put it away for no valid reason to my idea it would be preferable wouldn't it to give it to that poor old woman for was she to sell it she felt the means of subsistence what do you say will it do miaoyu listened to his suggestion and then nodded her head after some reflection yes that will be all right she answered lucky for her i've never drunk a drop out of that cup for hadai i would rather have smashed it to atoms than have let her have it if you want to give it to her i don't mind a bit about it but you yourself must hand it to her now be quick and clear it away at once of course quite so baoyu continued how could you ever go and speak to her things would then come to a worse pass you too would be contaminated if you give it to me it will be all right miaoyu there and then directed someone to fetch it and to give it to baoyu when it was brought baoyu took charge of it wait until we've gone out he proceeded and i called a few servant boys and bit them carry several buckets of water from the stream and washed the floors eh shall i yes there would be better miaoyu smiled the only thing is that you must tell them to bring the water and place it outside the entrance door by the foot of the wall for they mustn't come in this goes without saying baoyu said and while replying he produced the cup from the inside of his sleeve and handed it to a young waiting maid from dowager lady jazz apartment to hold tomorrow he told her give this to goody leo to take with her when she starts on her way homewards by this time he made the girl understand the charge he entrusted her with he told grandmother issued out and was anxious to return home miaoyu did not exert herself very much to induce her to prolong her visit but seeing her as far as the main gate she turned around and bolted the doors but without devoting any further attention to her we were now elude to dowager lady jia she felt thoroughly tired and exhausted to such degree that she desired madam wang ying chun and her sister to see that mrs. xue had some wine while she herself retired to the xiao xiang village to rest lady feng immediately played some servants to catch a bamboo chair on his arrival dowager lady jia seated herself in it and two matrons carried her off hand in by lady feng the one and a bevy of servant girls and matrons but let us now leave her to herself without any additional explanations during this while mrs. xue too said goodbye and departed madam wang then dismissed weng kuan and the other girls and distributing the eatables that had been collected in the partition boxes to the servant maids to go and feast on she evaded herself of the leisure moments to lie off so reclining as she was on the couch which had been occupied by her rolled relative a few minutes back she made a young maid lower the portier after which she asked her to massage her legs should i wrote lady yonder send any message mind you call me at once she proceeded to impress on her mind and lay herself down she went to sleep baoyu xiao ying and the rest watched the servant girls take the partition boxes and place them among the rocks and see themselves some on boulders others on the turf covered ground some lean against the trees other squads down besides the pool and thoroughly enjoyed themselves but in a little time they also perceived yuan yang arrive her object in coming was to carry off gu di liu for a stroll so in a body they followed in their track with a view of deriving some fun shortly they got under the honorary gateway put up in the additional grounds reserved for the imperial consort's visits to her parents and all gu di liu shouted aloud i your what is there another big temple here while speaking she prostrated herself and knocked her head to the intense amusement of the company who are quite doubled up with laughter what are you laughing at would you know inquired i can decipher the characters on this honorary gateway over at outplace temples of this kind are exceedingly plentiful and they've all got arcways like this these characters give the name of the temple okay make out from those characters where the temple this is they laughingly asked gu di liu quickly raised her head and pointing at the inscription aren't these she said the four characters pearly emperor's precious hall everybody laughed they clapped their hands and applauded but when about to shave her again gu di liu experienced a rumbling noise in her stomach and vehemently pulling a young servant girl and asking her for a couple of sheets of paper she began immediately to loosen her garments it won't do in here one and all laughingly shouted out to her and quickly they directed the matron to lead her away when they got at the northeast corner the matron pointed the proper place out to her and in high spirits she walked off and went to have some rest gu di liu had taken plenty of wine she could not too touch yellow wine she had what is more drunk and eaten so many fat things that in the thirst which supervened she had emptied several cups of tea the result was that she unavoidably got looseness of the bowels she therefore squatted forever so long before she felt any relief but on her exit from the private chamber the wind blew the wine to her head besides being a woman well up in years she felt upon suddenly rising from long squatting position her eyes grew so thin and her head so giddy that she could not make out the way she gazed on all four quarters but the whole place being covered with trees rockeries towers terraces and houses she was quite at a loss how to determine her whereabouts and where each road leads to she had no alternative but to follow a stone road at a toddle on her way with leisurely step but when she drew near a building she could not make out where the door could be after searching and searching she accidentally caught sight of a bamboo fence here's another trellis with flat bean plants creeping on it woody little communed within herself while giving way to reflection she skirted the flower laden hedge and discovering a moon-like cave-like entrance she stepped in here she discerned stretching before her eyes a sheet of water forming a pond which measured no more than seven or eight feet in breadth its banks were paved with slabs of stone its jade-like waves flowed in the limpid stream towards the opposite direction at the upper end figured a slab of white marble laid horizontally over the surface good leo wandered her steps over the slab and followed the raised stone road then turning two bends in the lake an entrance into a house struck her gaze forthwith she crossed the doorway but her eyes were soon attracted by a young girl who advanced to greet her with a smile playing upon her lips the young ladies goodie leo speedily remarked to laughing have cast me adrift that made me knock about until i find my way in here but seeing after dressing her that the girl said nothing by way of reply goodie leo approached her and seized her by the hand when with a crash she fell against the wooden petition wall and bumped her head so that it felt quite sore upon close examination she discovered that it was a picture a picture really so bulge out goodie leo mills within herself and as she exercised her mind with these cogitations she scanned it and rubbed her hand over it it was perfectly even all over she nodded her head and heaved a couple of sighs but the moment she turned around she espoused a small door over which hung a soft portier of leakering color bestowing with embroidered flowers goodie leo lifted the portier and walked in upon raising her head and casting a glance round she saw the walls artistically carved in fretwork a full full size loose double-edged swords vases and sensors were stuck everywhere over the walls and embroidered covers and gaze nets glistened as brightly as gold and shared a lustre vying with that of pearls even the bricks on the ground on which she trod were jade like green inlaid with designs so that her eyes got more and more dazzled she tried to discover the next exit but where could she find a doorway on the left were the book heads on the right a screen as soon as she repaired behind the screen she faced a door but she then caught sight of another old dame stepping in from outside and advancing towards her goodie leo was wonderstruck her mind was full of uncertainty as to whether it might not be her son-in-law's mother i expect she got prompted to ask with vehemence you went to the trouble of coming to hunt for me as you didn't see me turn up at home for several days eh but what young lady introduced you in here then noticing that her whole head was bedecked with flowers old goodie leo laughed how ignorant of the ways the world you are she said see the nice flowers in this garden you at once set to work forgetful of all consequences and loaded your pate with them however while she derided her the other old dame simply laughed without making any rejoinder recollection suddenly flashed her memory she had often heard of some kind of chivalr glasses found in wealthy and wealthy new families and may it not be she wondered my own self reflected in this glass after concluding this train of thoughts she put out her hands and feeling it and then minutely scrutinizing it she realized that the four wooden partition walls were made of carved blackwood into which mirrors had been inserted these have so far impeded my progress she consequently exclaimed and how am i to manage to get out as she soliloquized she kept on rubbing the mirror this mirror was in fact provided with some western mechanism which enabled it to open and shut so while goodie leo inadvertently passed her hands quite at random over its surface the pressure happily fell on the right spot and opening the contrivance the mirror flung round exposing a door to view old goodie leo was full of amazement as well as a wet admiration with hasty step she aggressed her eyes unexpectedly fell on her most handsome set of bed curtains but being at the time still seven or eight tenths in the wind and quite tired out from her tramp she with one jump squatted down on the bed saying to herself i'll just have a little rest so little however did she contrary to her expectations have any control over herself that as she reeled backwards and forwards her eyes got quite drowsy and then the moment she threw herself in a recumbent position she dropped into a sound sleep but let us now see you what the others were up to they waited for her and waited but they saw nothing of her power got in the absence of his grandmother so distressed that he melted into tears may she not have fallen into the place one in all laughingly observed be quick and tell someone to go and have a look two matrons were directed to go in search for her but they returned and reported that she was not to be found the whole party instituted a search in every nook and corner but nothing could be seen off her she was so drunk siren suggested that she's sure to have lost her way and following this road got into our back rooms should she have crossed to the inside of the hedge she must have come to the door of the black house and got in nevertheless the young maize she must have come across must know something about her if she's not get inside the hedge but continued in the south westerly direction she's all right if you made a detour and walked out but if she hasn't done so why she have enough of roaming for a good long while i had better therefore go and see what she's up to with these words stolen her lips she retraced her footsteps and repaired into yihon quote she called out to the servants but who would have thought it the whole bevy of young maize attached to those rooms has seized the opportunity to go and have a ronk so she ran straight away entered the door of the house as soon as she turned the multicolored embroidered screen the sound of snoring as loud as peels of thunder fell on her ear hastily she but took herself inside but her nostrils were overpowered by the foul air of wine and wind which infected the apartment at a glance she discovered old woody lil lying on the bed faced downwards with hands broad out and feet knocking about all over the place she didn't sustained no small shock with precipitate hurry she rushed up to her and laying hold of her lying as she was more dead than alive she pushed her about until she succeeded in rousing her to her senses old woody lil was startled out of her sleep she opened wide her eyes and realizing that syrin's do it before her she speedily crawled up miss she pleaded i do deserve death i have done what i shouldn't but i haven't in any way soiled the bed so sane she swept her hands over it but syrin was in fear and trembling less the suspicions of any inmates should be aroused and last bar you should come to know of it so all she did was to wave her hand towards her building her not utter a word then with the lacquerity grasping three or four handfuls of baihua incense she heaped it on a large tripod which stood in the center of the room and put the lid back again delighted at the idea that she had not been so upset as to be sick it doesn't matter she quickly rejoined in a low tone of voice with a smile i'm here to run for this come along with me well old woody lil expressed her readiness to comply with her wishes she followed syrin out into the quarters occupied by the young maize here syrin desired her to take a seat mind you say she she enjoyed her that you were so drunk that you stressed on the border and had its news all right i will i was really low promised syrin afterwards helped her to two cups of tea when she at length got over the effects of the wine what young lady's room is this that it is so beautiful she then inquired it seems to me just as if i had gone to the very heavenly palace syrin gave a faint smile this one she asked why it's our master's secondos mr bar's bedroom i was goodily always quite taken aback and could not even presume to utter a sound but syrin let her out across the front compound and when they met the inmates of the family she simply explained to them that she had found her father's sleep on the grass and brought her along no one paid any heed to the excuse she gave and the subject was dropped presently dowager lady jia awoke and the evening meal was at once served in the daoshangsun dowager lady jia was however quite listless and felt so little inclined to eat anything that she forthwith got into a small open chair with bamboo seat and returned to her suite of rooms to rest but she insisted the lady fun and companions should go and have their rip pass so the young ladies eventually adjoined once more into the garden but rinda you do not know the sequel so peruse the circumstances given in detail in the next chapter end of section 33 recording by tau wuqin in singapore section 34 of the dream of the red chamber book two this is a lipovox recording all lipovox recordings are in the public domain for more information not to volunteer please visit lipovox.org the dream of the red chamber book two by chiao's routine translated by henry bankraft jolly chapter 42 part one the princess of heng wu dispels with sweet words some insane suspicions the inmates of chiao shan put with excellent repartee the final touch to the jokes made about kutiliu we will now resume our story by adding that on the return of the young ladies into the garden they had their meal this over they parted company and nothing more need be said about them we will notice however that old kutiliu took partner along with her and came first and pay a visit to lady phone we must certainly start for home tomorrow as soon as it is daylight she said i've stayed here it's true only two or three days but in these few days i have ripped experience in everything that i have not seen from old till now it would be difficult to find anyone as compassionate of the poor and considerate to the old as your venerable dame your madam wong your young ladies and the girls too attached to the various rooms have all shown themselves in the treatment of me when i get home now i should have no other means of showing how grateful i am to you than by purchasing a lot of huge joysticks and saying daily prayers to Buddha on your behalf and if he spare you all to enjoy a long life of 100 years my wishes will be accomplished don't be so exultant lady phone smilingly replied is all on account of you that our old ancestor has fallen ill by exposing herself to drugs and that she suffers from disturbed sleep also that our daughter has caught a chill and is laid up at home with fever continue at these words speedily if assigned a venerable leadership she said is a person advanced in years and not accustomed to any intense fatigue she has never before been in such high spirits as yesterday the day from observed as you were here so anxious was she to let you see everything that she touched over the greater part of the garden and dadger was given a piece of cake by madam wong when i came to hanchu up and she ate it who knows in what windy place and began once to get feverish dadger could deliver remarked hasn't i fancy often put her foot into the garden and young people like her mustn't really go into strange places for she's not like our children who are able to use their legs in what graveyard don't they ramble about a puff of wind may on the one hand have struck her is not at all unlikely or being on the other so chased in body and her eyes also so pure she may it is to be feared have come across some spirit or other i can't have thinking therefore that you should consult some book of exorcisms on her behalf for mind she may have run up against some evil influence this remark suggested the idea to lady for there and then she called ping her to fetch the jade box record when brought she decided timing to look over it for her timing turned over the pages for time and then read those who fall ill on the 25th day of the eighth moon have come across in a due rest of the quarter of some flower spirit they feel heavy with no inclination for drink or food take seven sheets of white paper money and advancing 40 steps due west burn them and exercise the spirit recovery will follow at once there's really no mistake about that lady phone smiled are there not flower spirits in the garden but what i direct is that our old lady mayant have come across one too saying this she paid a servant purchased two lots of paper money on the arrival she sent for two proper persons to one to exercise the spirits for doucher lady jar and the other to expel them from dutcher and these observances over dutcher did in fact drop quietly to sleep is rarely people advanced in years like you lady phone smilingly exclaimed we've gone through many experiences this dutcher of mine has often been inclined to ill and it has quite puzzled me to make out how and why it was this isn't anything out of the way good you said efferents and honorable people bring up their offspring to be delicate so naturally they are not able to endure the least hardship moreover that young child of yours is so excessively cuddled that she can't stand it where you therefore my lady to pamper her less from hands forth she'll steadily improve there's plenty of reason in that too lady phone observed but it strikes me that she hasn't as yet got the name so do give her one in order that she may borrow your long life in the next place you are country people and are after all i don't expect you get angry when i mentioned it somewhat in poor circumstances for a person then as far as you are to suggest a name for her you may i trust have the effect of counteracting this influence for her when all good you knew her this proposal she immediately gave herself up to reflection i have no idea of the date of her birth she smiled after a time she really was born on no perpetuous date lady phone replied by a remarkable coincidence she came into the world on the seventh day of the seventh moon this is certainly splendid over the new loft with a liberty you had better name her at once charger that is seventh moon and ingenuity this is what's generally called combating poison by poison and attacking fire by fire if therefore your leadership fixes upon this name of mine she will for sure a tea attain a long life of a hundred years and when she buy and buy grows up to be a big girl every one of you will be able to have a home and get a petrimony or if at any time there occur anything in auspicious and she has to face adversity why it will inevitably change into prosperity and if she comes across any evil fortune it will turn into good fortune and this will all arise from this one word jar that is ingenuity lady phone was needless to say delighted by what she heard and she lost no time in expressing her gratitude if she be preserved she exclaimed to accomplish your good wishes it will be such a good thing saying this she called pinker as you and i are bound to be busy tomorrow she said and won't i fear be able to spare any leisure moments it would better if you have nothing to do now get ready the presents for old good deal so as to enable her to conveniently start an early dawn tomorrow how could i presume to be the cause of such reckless waste good deal in the post i've already disturbed your peace and quiet for several days and where i do also take your things away i'll feel still less at ease in my heart there's nothing much lady phone protested they consist simply of a few ordinary things but whether good or bad to take them along so that's the people in the same street as yourselves and your next door neighbors may have some little excitement and that they may look as if you had been on a visit to the city but while she endeavoured to induce the old dame to accept the presents she noticed pinker approach good deal she remarked come over here and see oh good deal precipitatedly followed pinker into the room on the offside here she saw the stove coach half full with pounds of things pinker took these up one by one and let her have a look at them this she explained is a role of that green course you asked for yesterday besides this our lady phone gives you a piece of thick rich white course to use as lining these are two pieces of punji which will do for weather coats and jupas as well in this bundle are two pieces of silk for you to make clothes with for the end of the year this is a box containing various homemade cakes among them are some you've already tasted and some you haven't so take them along and put them in plates and invite your friends they'll be ever so much better than any that you could buy these two bags are those in which the melons and fruit were packed up yesterday this one has been filled with two bushels of fine rice grown in the imperial fields the like of which for congee it would not be easy to get this one contains fruits from our garden and all kinds of dry fruits in this packet you'll find ectails of silver these various things are presents for you from our mistress sekunda each of these packets contains 50 tails so that there are in all 100 tails they are the gifts of madam wall she beats you accept them so as to either carry on any trade for which no big capital is required or to purchase several acres of land in order that you may and hence forward have any more to back favors of relatives or to depend upon friends continuing she had a smilingly in a low tone of voice these two jackets two uber's forehead bands and a bundle of velvet and thread are what i give you worthy name as my share these clothes are it is true the worst for you's yet i haven't worn them very much but if you disdain them i won't be so presuming as to say anything after mention of each article by ping her would you muttered the name of buddha so already she had repeated buddha's name several thousands of times but when she saw the heap of presents which ping her to bestowed on her and the little ostentation with which she did it she promptly smiled miss she said what are you saying could i ever disdain such nice gifts as these had i even the money i couldn't buy them anywhere the only thing is that i feel overpowered with shame if i keep them it won't be nice and if i don't accept them i shall be showing myself i'm grateful for your kind attention don't utter all these irrelevant talk ping or laughed you and i are friends so compose your mind and take the things i gave you just now besides i have on my part something to ask of you when the close of the year comes select a few of your cabbages dipped in lime and dried in the sun as well as some lentils flat beans tomatoes and pumpkin strips and various sorts of dry vegetables and bring them over we are all both high or low fond of such things this will be quite enough we don't want anything else so don't go to any useless trouble buddha lew gave utterance to profuse expressions of gratitude and signified her readiness to comply with her wishes just you go to sleep ping or urged and i'll get the things ready for you and put them in here as soon as the day breaks tomorrow i'll send the sermon lads to hide our cards and pack them in don't you therefore worry yourself in the least on that score buddha lew felt more and more inevitably grateful so crossing over she again said with warm protestations of thankfulness goodbye to lady form after which she repaired to dalja lady jar's quarters on this side where she slept with one sleep during the whole night early the next day as soon as she had calmed her hair and performed her ablutions she asked to go and pay her adieu to lady jar but as all lady jar was unwell the various members of the family came to see how she was getting on on their reappearance outside they transmitted orders that the doctor should be sent for in a little time a matron reported that the doctor had arrived and an old nurse invited dalja lady jar to her scones herself under the curtain i'm an old woman lady jar remonstrated am i not aged enough to be a mother to that fellow am i pray to still stand on any ceremonies with him there's no need to drop the curtain i'll see him as i am and have done hearing her objections the matrons fetched a small table and laying a small pillow on it they directed a servant to ask the doctor in presently they perceived the thrill jar jen jar lian and jar room bringing dr wong dr wong did not presume to use the raised road but confiding himself to the side steps he kept pace with jar jen until they reached the platform two matrons who have been standing one on either side from an early hour raised the potty a a couple of old women's servants then took the lead and showed the way in but baoyu too appeared on the scene to meet them they found old lady jar seated both upright on a coach dressed in a blue crepe jacket lined with sheepskin every curl of which resembled a pearl on the right and left stood four young mates whose hair had not yet been allowed to grow with flying brushes finger bows and other such articles in their hands five or six old nurses were also drawn up on both sides like wings at the back of the jay green cosmos widow house were faintly visible several persons in red and green abilitments with gems on their heads and gold trinkets in their coffers dr wong could not muster the courage to raise his head with speedy step he advanced and paid his obeisance dao jie li di jar noticed that he wore the official dress of the sixth grade and she accordingly concluded that he must be an imperial physician how are you a noble doctor to inquire forcing a smile what is the worthy surname of this noble doctor she then asked jia jin jia jin and his companions made prompt reply his surname is wang they said there was once a certain wang jin xiao who filled the chair of president of the college of imperial physicians dao jie li di smilingly proceeded he excelled in feeling the pulse dr wang bent his body and with alacrity he lowered his head and returned her smile that was he explained my grand uncle is it really so livenly pursued dao jie li di jar upon catching this reply we can then call ourselves old friends so speaking she quietly put out her hand and rested it on the small pillow a nurse laid hold of a small stool and placed it before the small table slightly to the side of it daughter wang bent one knee and took a seat on the stool drooping his head he fells the pulse of the one hand for a long while next he examined that of the other afterwards hastily making a courtesy he bent his head and started on his way out of the apartment excuse me for the trouble i've put you to dao jie li di jar smiled jiner escort him outside and to see that he has a cup of tea jia jin jia lin and the rest of their companions immediately acquiesced by uttering several yeses and once more they led daughter wang into the elder study your worthy senior daughter wang explained has nothing else to matter with her than a slight chill which she must have inadvertently contracted she didn't after all take any medicines all she need to do is to diet herself and keep warm a little and she'll get all right but i will now write a prescription in here should have vulnerable leadership care to take any of the medicine then prepare those according to the prescription and let her have it but should she be loathe to have any well never mind it won't be of any consequence saying this he wrote the prescription as he sipped his tea but when about to take his leave he saw a nurse bring dao jie li into the room mr wang she said to also have a look at our jar upon hearing her appeal daughter wang immediately rose to his feet while she was collapsed in the nurse's arms he rested da jie li sent on his left hand and fell to a pulse with his right and rubbing her forehead he asked her to put out her tongue and let him see it where i do express my views about jar you would again abuse me if she's however kept quiet and allowed to go hungry for a couple of meals so get over this there's no necessity for her to take any decoded medicines i'll just send her some pills which you'll have to dissolve in a preparation of ginger and give them to her before she goes to sleep when she has had these there will be nothing more to matter with her as the conclusion of these recommendations he paid them goodbye and took his departure jar jen and his companions then took the prescription and came and explained to old lady jar the nature of her in disposition and depositing on the table the paper given to them by the doctor they quitted her presence but nothing more need to be said about them madam wang and li wun lady feng chai and the other young ladies noticed meanwhile that the doctor had gone and they eventually egressed from the back of the mosquito house after a short stay madam wang returned to her quarters could liu repaired when she perceived everything quite again into the other rooms and made her adieu to daoja lady jar when you've got any leisure you pay us another visit already jar urged and it didn't you and young come to her do be careful she added and see dame liu safely on her way out for not being well i can't escort you myself could liu expressed her thanks and saying goodbye a second time she took herself along with yun yang into the seven quarters here yun yang pointed at a bundle on the stove couch these are she said several articles of clothing belonging to our old mistress they were presented to her in years gone by by members of our family on her birthdays and various festivals a leadership never wears anything made by people outside yet to hold these would be a downright pity indeed she hasn't worn them even once it was yesterday that she told me to get out two costumes and hand them to you to take along with you either to give as presents or to be worn by someone in your home but don't make fun of us in the box you'll find the flower fruits for which you asked this bundle contains the medicines to which you alluded the other day there are plumb blossom spotted tongue peels and people go ingot peels also vivifying blood vessels peels as well as driving offspring and preserving live peels each kind being rolled up in a sheet bearing the prescription and a whole lot of them are packed up in here while these two are purses for you to wear in the way of ornaments so saying see forthwith loosened the cot and producing two ingots representing pencils and with Rui on them implying your wishes will surely be fulfilled she drew near and showed them to her take the purses she pursued smiling but to leave these behind and give them to me goodly was so overjoyed that she had from an early period come out of fresh with several thousands of invocations of buddha's names when she therefore heard Yuan Yuan's suggestion missed she quickly rejoined you're at perfect liberty to keep them Yuan Yuan perceived that words were believed by her so smiling she once more dropped the ingots into the purse I was only joking with you for fun she observed I've got a good many like these keep them there for and give them as the close of the year to your young children speaking the while she aspired a young maid walk in with a cup from the Cheng Qiong and handed to oh goody Liu this she said our master secunders mr. Bao gives you when could I begin illuminating the things I got goody Liu exclaimed in what previous existence did I accomplish anything so meritorious as to bring today this heap of blessings upon me with these words she eagerly took possession of the cup the clothes I gave you the other day when I asked you to have a bath where my own union resumed and if you don't think them too mean I've got a few more which I would also like to let you have goody Liu thanked her with vehemence so union in point of fact produced several more articles of clothing and these she packed up for her goody Liu they are prone expressed a desire to also go into the garden and take leave of Bao Yu and the young ladies madam Wang and the other inmates and to thank them for all they did for her but union raised objections you can dispense with going she ran out they don't see anyone just now but I'll deliver the message for you buy and buy when you've got any leisure do come again go to the second gate so went on to direct an old matron and call two servant lads to come here and have this old day to take her things away after the matron has signified her obedience union returned with goody Liu to lady phone's quarters on the off part of the mansion and taking the presents as far as the side gates she paid the servant lads carry them out to herself then saw goody Liu into her clerical and start on her journey homewards but without commenting further on this topic let us reverse to Bao Chai and the other girls after breakfast they were crossed into the grandmother's rooms and making queries about her health on their way back to the garden they reached a point where they had to take different roads Bao Chai then called out to Da Yu Pinger she observed come with me I've got a question to ask you Da Yu went at her steps therefore with Bao Chai into the Hang Wu court as soon as they entered the house Bao Chai threw herself into a seat kneel down she smiled I want to examine you about something Da Yu could not fathom her objects and consequently laughed look here she cried this shit Bao has gone clean of her senses what do you want to examine me about Bao Chai gave a sadonic smile my dear precious girl my dear maiden she exclaimed what utter trash feels your mouth just speak the honest and candid truth and finish Da Yu could so little guess her meaning that her soul resource was to smile inwardly however she could not help beginning to experience certain misgivings what did I say truly marked you're bent upon picking out my thoughts speak out and let me hear what's all about do you still pretend to be a fool Bao Chai laughed when we played yesterday that game of wine four feet what did you say I really couldn't make out any head or tail Da Yu after a moment's reflection remembered eventually that she had the previous day been guilty of a slip of the tongue and come out with a couple of passages from the Peony Pavilion and the record of the west side house and of a sudden her face got scarlet with blushes jointly about Chai she threw her arms around her my dear cousin she smiled I really wasn't conscious of what I was saying it just blurted out of my mouth but now that you've called me to task I won't say such things again I have no idea of what you were driving at Bao Chai lovingly rejoined what I heard you recite sounds so thoroughly unfamiliar to me that I beg you to enlighten me dear cousin play the Da Yu don't tell anyone else I won't in the future breathe such things again and of section 34