 Section 27 of the Dream of the Red Chamber, Book 2. This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. Recording by Tina Ding, The Dream of the Red Chamber, Book 2 by Cao Xueqin, translated by Henry Bencroft Jolie, Chapter 38, Part 2. A short time only elapsed before the compositions on the twelve themes had all been completed. After they had each copied out their respective verses, they handed them to Yingtran, who took a separate sheet of snow-white fancy paper and transcribed them together, affixing distinctly under each stanza the style of the composer. Li Wan and her assistants then began to read, starting from the first on the list, the verses which follow. Longing for Chris Anthemons by the Princess of Hengwu. With anguish sore, I face the western breeze and wrapped in grief I pine for you. What time the smart wee Russet turns and the reeds white? My heart is rent in two. When in autumn the hedges thin and gardens waste, all trace of you is gone. When the moon waxed cold and the dew pure, my dreams then know something of you. With constant yearnings my heart follows you as far as wild geese homework fly. Lonesome I sit and lend and year to a late hour to the sound of the block. For you, ye yellow flowers, I've ground haggard and worn, but who doth pity me? And breathe one word of cheer that in the ninth moon I will soon meet you again. Search for Chris Anthemons by the gentlemen of Yi Hong. When I have not to do, I'll seize the first fine day to try and stroll about. Neither wine cups nor cups of medicine will then deter me from my wish. Who plants the flowers in all those spots facing the dew and under the moon's rays? Outside the rails they grow and buy the hedge, but in autumn where do they go? With sandals waxed I come from distant shores, my feelings all exuberant. But as on this cold day I can't exhaust my song, my spirits get depressed. The yellow flowers, if they but knew how comfort to a poet to afford, would not let me this early morn trudge out in vain with my cash-laden staff. Planting Chris Anthemons by the gentlemen of Yi Hong. When autumn breaks I take my hoe and moving them myself out of the park. I plant them everywhere near their hedges and in the foreground of the halls. Last night, when least expected, they got a good shower which made them all revive. This morn my spirits still rise high as the buds burst in bloom bedecked with frost. Now that is cool, a thousand stanzas on the autumn scenery I sing. In ecstasies from drink I toast their blossom in a cup of cold and fragrant wine. With spring water I sprinkle them, cover the roots with mold and well-tent them, so that they may, like the path near the well, be free of every grain of dirt. Facing the Chris Anthemons by the old friend of the hall reclining on the rustic clouds. From other gardens I transplant them and I treasure them like gold. One cluster bears light-colored bloom and other bears dark shades. I sit with head uncovered by the sparse-leaved Artemisia hedge, ending their pure and cool fragrance clasping my knees I hum nine lays. In the whole world, me thinks, none see the light as peerless as these flowers. From all I see you have no other friend more intimate than me. Such autumn splendor I must not misuse as steadily it fleets. My gaze I fix on you as I am faint each moment to enjoy. Facing Chris Anthemons in vases by the old friend of the hall reclining on the rustic clouds. The loot I throw and quuff my wine joyfully hard that ye are me to be my mates. The various tables on which ye are laid adorn with beauties graze this quiet nuke. The frequent dew next to the spot I sit is far apart from that by the three paths. I fling my book aside and turn my gaze upon a twig full of your autumn bloom. What time the frost is pure, a new dream steals over me as by the paper screen I rest. When co-hodeth the park and the sun's rays do slent, I long and yearn for you, O friends. I too differ from others in this world for my own tastes resemble those of yours. The vernal winds do not hinder the peach tree and the pear from bursting forth in bloom. Singing Chris Anthemons by the sowshown consort, eating the bread of idleness the frenzy of poetry creeps over me both night and day. Round past the hedge I went and leaning on the rock I intone verses gently to myself. On the point of my pencil emanate lines of recondite graze so near the frost I write. Some scent I hold by the side of my mouth and turning to the moon I sing my sentiments. With self-pitying lines pages I feel so as utterance to give to all my cares and wolves. From these few scanty words who could fathom the secrets of my heart about the autumn tide? Beginning from the time when Tao, the magistrate, did criticize the beauty of your bloom. Yea, from that date, remote up to this very day, your high renown has ever been extolled. Drawing Chris Anthemons by the princess of Hengwu, verses I've had enough so with my pens I play, with no idea that I am mad. Do I make use of pigments red or green as to involve a task of toil some work? To form clusters of leaves I sprinkle simply here and there a thousand specks of ink. And when I've drawn the semblance of the flowers, some spots I make to represent the frost. The light and dark so lifelike harmonize with the figure of those there in the wind. That, when I've done tracing their autumn growth, a fragrance smell issues under my wrist. Do you not mark how they resemble those by the east edge which you leisurely plug? Upon the screens their image I affix to solace me for those of the ninth moon. Asking the Chris Anthemons by the Xiao Xiang Consort, your heart in autumn I would like to read, but know it no one could. While humming with my arms behind my back on the east edge I wrap, so peerless and unique are ye that who is meet with you to stay? Why are you of all flowers the only ones to burst the last in bloom? Why in such silence plunge the garden, dew and the frost in the hall? When wild geese homeward fly and crickets sicken, do you think of me? Do not tell me that in the world none of you grow with power of speech. But if ye fethom what I say, why not converse with me awhile? Pinning the Chris Anthemons in the hair, by the visitor under the banana trees, I put some in the vase and plant some by the hedge, so day by day I have ample to do. I pluck them, yet don't fancy their mantra girls to pin before the glass in their coiffure. My mania for these flowers is just as keen as was that of the squire who once lived in Chang'an. I rave as much for them as raved Mr. Pong Ze when he was under the effects of wine. Code is the short hair on his temples and moistened with dew, which on it dripped from the tree paths. His flaxen turban is suffused with the sweet fragrance of the autumn frost in the ninth moon. That strong weakness of mine to pin them in my hair is viewed with sneers by my contemporaries. They clap their hands, but they're free to laugh at me by the roadside as much as air they'd list. The shadow of the chrysanthemums by the old friend of the hall reclining on the rustic clouds. In layers upon layers their autumn splendor grows in air thick and thicker. I make off third-tiffly and stealthily transplant them from the three crossways. The distant lamp inside the window frame depicts their shade both far and near. The hedge riddles the moon's rays like unto a syph, but the flowers stop the holes. As their reflection cold and fragrant terries here, their soul must too abide. The dew-dry spot beneath the flowers is so like them that what is said of dreams is trash. Their precious shadows full of subtle scent are trotten down to pieces here and there. Did anyone with eyes half-closed from drinking not mistake the shadow for the flowers? Dreaming of the chrysanthemums by the Xiao Xiang Consort. What vivid dreams arise as I doze by the hedge amidst those autumn scenes. Whether clouds bear me company or the moon be my mate, I can't discern. In fairyland I soar, not that I would become a butterfly like Drong. So long I for my friend Tao, the magistrate, that I again seek him. In a sound sleep I fell, but so soon as the wild geese cried they broke my rest. The chirp of the cicadas gave me such a start that I bared them a grudge. My secret wrongs to whom can I go and divulge when I wake up from sleep? The faded flowers and the cold mist make my feelings of anguish no-no bounce. Fading of the chrysanthemums by the visitor under the banana trees, the dew congeals, the frost waxes in weight and gradually dwindles their bloom. Under the feast with the flower show follows the season of the little snow. The stalks retain still some redundant smell, but the flowers' goat and tinge is faint. The stamps do not bear sign of even one whole leaf. Their verdure is all past. Not but the chirp of crickets strikes my ear while the moon shines on half my bed. Here the co-clouds distant a thousand lee, a flock of wild geese slowly fly. When autumn breaks again next year I feel certain that we will meet once more. We part but only four times, so don't let us indulge in anxious thoughts. Each stanza they read they praised, and they heaped upon each other in seson eulogiums. Let me now criticize them, I'll do so with all fairness, the wine smiled. As I glance over the page she said, I find that each of you has some distinct admirable sentiments, but in order to be impartial in my criticism today I must concede the first place to singing the chrysanthemums, the second to asking the chrysanthemums, and the third to dreaming of chrysanthemums. The original nature of the themes makes the verses full of originality and their conception still more original, but we must allow to the Xiao Xiang consort the credit of being the best, next in order following, pinning chrysanthemums in the hair, facing the chrysanthemums, pinning the chrysanthemums in vases, drawing the chrysanthemums, and longing for chrysanthemums as second best. This decision filled Bao Yu with intense gratification, clapping his hands, quite right, it's most just, he shouted. My verses are worth nothing, Dai Yu remarked. Your fault, after all, is that they're a little too minutely subtle. They are subtle, but good, Lihuan rejoined, for there is no artificialness or stiffness about them. According to my views, Dai Yu observed, the best line is, When cold hodeth the park and the sun's rays do slant, I long and yearn for you, O friends. The metonymy, I fling my book aside and turn my gaze upon a twig of autumn, is already emerald. She has dealt so exhaustively with putting chrysanthemums in a vase, that she has left nothing on set that could be said, and has had inconsequence to turn her thought back and consider the time anterior to their being plucked and placed in vases. Her sentiments are profound. What you say is certainly so, explained Lihuan, smiling, but that line of yours, some scent I hold by the side of my mouth, beats that. After all, said Tentron, we must admit that there's depth of thought in those of the Princess of Hang Wu with, In autumn all trace of you is gone, and my dreams then know something of you. They really make the meaning implied by the words long for stand out clearly. Those passages of yours, cold is the short hair on his temples and moistened, and his flux and turban is suffused with the sweet fragrance, laughingly observed Bao Chai, likewise bring out the idea of pinning the chrysanthemums in the hair so thoroughly that one couldn't get a loophole for fault-finding. Xiang Yun then smiled, Who is meat with you to stay? She said, and burst the blast in bloom, a question so straight to the point set to the chrysanthemums that they are quite at a loss what answer to give. Here what you say, I sit with head uncovered, and clasping my knees, I hum my lays, as if you couldn't in fact tear yourself away for even a moment from them. The one laughed, to come to the knowledge of the chrysanthemums, why they would certainly be sick and tired of you. This joke made everyone laugh. I'm blessed again, smile Bao Yu. Is it likely that? Who plants the flowers in autumn, where do they go? With sandals waxed I come from distant shores, and as on this cold day I can't exhaust my song. Do not all forsooth amount to searching for chrysanthemums, and that last night they got a shower and this morn redact with frost. Don't both bear on planting them, but unfortunately they can't come up to these lines. Some scent I hold by the side of my mouth, and turning to the moon I sing my sentiments. In their pure and cool fragrance, clasping my knees, I hum my lays, sure hair on his temples, his flaxen turban, golden tinge is faint, verdure is all past in autumn, all trace of you is gone. My dreams then know something of you. But tomorrow, he proceeded, if I have got nothing to do, I'll write 12 stanzas myself. Yours are also good, Li Wan pursued. The only thing is that they aren't as full of original conception as those other lines. That's all. But after a few further criticisms, they asked for some more warm craps, and helping themselves as soon as they were brought from the large circular table, they regaled themselves for time. With the craps today in one's hand and the olia before one's eyes, one cannot help indicting verses, Bao Yu smiled. I've already thought of a few, but will any of you again have the plug to devise any? With this challenge, he there and then hastily washed his hands and picking up a pen, he wrote out what his companions found on Perusal to run in this strain. Then in my hands I clasp a crab, what most enchants my heart is the casiest cool shade. While I pour vinegar and ground ginger, I feel from joy as if I would go mad. With so much gluttony, the princess grandson eats his craps that he should have some wine. The sidewalking young gentleman has no intestines in his frame at all. I lose sight in my greediness that in my stomach code accumulates. To my fingers a strong smell doeth adhere, and though I wash them, yet the smell clings fast. The main secret of this is that men in this world make much of food. The poor spirit has laughed at them that all their lives they only seek to eat. I could readily compose a hundred stanzas with such verses in no time, Daiyu observed with a sarcastic smile. Your mental energies are now long ago exhausted while you rejoin to laughingly, and instead of confessing your inability to devise any, you still go on heaping invective upon people. Daiyu, upon catching this insinuation, made no reply of any kind, but slightly raising her head she hummed something to herself for a while, and then taking up a pen she completed a whole stanza with a few dashes. The company then read her lines. They consisted of, Even after death, their armor and their lengthy spears are never cast away. So nice they look, piled in the plate, that thirst to taste them at fame be. In every pair of legs they have, the crabs are full of tender, jade-like meat. Each piece of ruddy fat, which in their shell bumps up, emits a fragrant smell. As much meat they have, a greater relish for me still, eight feet as well. Who bids me drink a thousand cups of wine in order to enhance my joy? What time I can behold their luscious food with a fine seasoned doath accord. When caseous wave with fragrance pure, and the chrysanthemums are decked with frost, Baoyu had just finished conning it over and was beginning to sing its praise when Daiyu with one snatch tore it to pieces and bait a servant go and burn it. As my compositions can't come up to yours, she then observed, I'll burn it. Yours is capital, much better than the lines you wrote a little time back on the chrysanthemums. So keep it for the benefits of others. I've likewise succeeded after much effort in putting together a stanza, Baotai laughingly remarked. It cannot, of course, be worth much, but I'll put it down for fun's sake. As she spoke, she too wrote down her lines. When they came to look at them, they read, On this bright, beautyous day, I bask in the dry Andra shade with a cup in my hand. When I was at Chang'an with driveling mouth, I longed for the ninth day of the ninth moon. The rose stretches before their very eyes, but they can't tell between straight and transfers. Under their shells in spring and autumn only rains a vacuum, yellow and black. At this point, they felt unable to refrain from shouting, Excellent! She abuses in fine style, Baoyu shouted, but my lines should also be committed to the flames. The company thereupon scanned the remainder of the stanza which was couched in this wise. When all the stock of wine is gone, chrysanthemums then used to scour away the smell. So as to counteract their properties of gathering cold, fresh ginger you should take. Alas! Now that they have been dropped into the boiling pot, what good do they derive? About the moonlit river banks, there but remains the fragrant aroma of corn. At the close of their perusal, they, with one voice, explained that this was a first great song on crap-eating, that minor themes of this kind should really conceal lofty thoughts before they could be held to be of any great merit, and that the only thing was that it chaffed people rather too virulently. But while they were engaged in conversation, Ping'er was again seeing coming into the garden. What she wanted is not however yet known, so, reader, peruse the details given in the subsequent chapter. End of Section 27. Section 28 of the Dream of the Red Chamber Book II. This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the Pub of Domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. The Dream of the Red Chamber Book II by Zhao Xueqin. Translated by Henry Bencraft Jolie. Chapter 39. Part 1. The tongue of the village old dame finds as free vent as a river that has broken its banks. The affectionate cousin makes up his mind to sift to the very bottom of the story told by old Goody Lyud. Upon seeing, the story explains, Ping'er arrived. They unanimously inquired, What is your mistress up to? How is it she hasn't come? However could she spare the time to get as far as here? Ping'er smiled and replied, But she said she hasn't anything good to eat, so she bade me, as she couldn't possibly run over, come and find out whether there be any more crabs or not. If there be, she enjoined me to ask for a few to take her to eat at home. There are plenty! Xiangyun rejoined, and directing with alacrity a servant to fetch a present box, she put in it ten of the largest crabs. I'll take a few more of the female ones, Ping'er remarked. One and all then laid hands upon Ping'er, and tried to drag her into a seat, but Ping'er would not accede to their importunities. I insist upon your sitting down, the one laughing me exclaimed, and as she kept pulling her about and forcing her to sit next to her, she filled a cup of wine and put it to her lips. Ping'er hastily swallowed a sip and endeavored immediately to beat a retreat. I won't let you go, shouted Li Huon. It's so evident that you've only got that woman fung in your thoughts as you don't listen to any of my words. Saying this, she went on to bid the nurses go ahead and take the box over, tell her, she added, that I've kept Ping'er here. A matron presently returned with a box. Lady Secunda, she reported, says that you, Lady Tru, and our young mistresses must not make fun of her for having asked for something to eat, and that in this box you'll find cakes made of water lily powder and rolls prepared with chicken fat, which your maternal aunt on the other side just sent for your ladyship and for you young ladies to taste. That she bids you, the matron continued, turning towards Ping'er, come over on duty, but your mind is so set upon pleasure that you loiter behind and don't go back. She advises you, however, not to have too many cups of wine. Where I even to have too much, Ping'er smiled, what could she do to me? During these words she went on with her drink, after which she partook of some more crap. What a pitiate is, interposedly one, caressing her, that a girl with such good looks as you should have so ordinary a fortune as to simply fall into that room as a menial. But wouldn't anyone who is not acquainted with actual facts take you for a lady and a mistress? While she went on eating and drinking with Bao Chai, Xiang Yun, and the other girls, Ping'er turned her head round. Don't run me like that, she laughed, it makes me feel quite ticklish. Aiyo, shouted Li Huan, what's this hard thing? It's a key, Ping'er answered. What fine things have you got that the fearless people should take it away, prompts you to carry this about you. I keep on, just for a laugh, telling people the whole day long, that when the bond's tongue was fetching the cannons, a white horse came and carried him. That when Liu Zhiyuan was attacking the empire, a melon spirit appeared and brought him a coat of mail, and that, in the same way, where Ah, Vixin Feng is, there you are to be found. You are your mistress' general key, and what do you want this other key for? You've primed yourself with wine, my lady, Ping'er smiled, and here you once more chafe me and make a laughing stock of me. This is really quite true, Bao Chai laughed. Whenever we've got nothing to do, and we talk matters over, we're quite unanimous that not one in a hundred could be picked out to equal you girls in here. The beauty is that each one of you possesses her own good qualities. In everything, whether large or small, a heavenly principle rules alike, Li Wan explained, were there, for instance, no yuan yang in our venerable seniors' apartments? How would it ever do? Commencing with Madam Wang herself, who is it who could muster sufficient courage to expostulate with the old lady? Yet she plainly has the pluck to put in her remonstrances with her, and, as it happens, I will the ancestor lends a patient ear to only what she says and no one else. None of the others can remember what our old senior has in the way of clothes and head ornaments, but she can remember everything. And were she not there to look after things? There is no knowing how many would not be swindled away. That child, besides, is so straightforward at heart that, despite all this, she often puts in a good word for others, and doesn't rely upon her influence to look down disdainfully upon anyone. It was only yesterday, she, twin, observed with a smile, that our dear ancestor said that she was ever so much better than the whole lot of us. She certainly splendid, pinging our ventured. How could we rise up to her standard? Saishah, Baoyu, her inn, who is in mother's rooms, is a good sort of girl. Of course she is. Tam, twin, assented, but she's good enough as far as external appearances go, but inwardly she's a sly one. Madam Wong is just like a joss. She does not give her mind to any sort of business, but this girl is up to everything, and it is she who in all manner of things reminds her mistress what there is to be done. She even knows everything, whether large or small, connected with Mr. Jia Zhong's staying at home or going out of doors, and when at any time Madam Wong forgets, she from behind the scenes prompts her how to act. Well, never mind about her, the one suggested, but where, she pursued, pointing at Baoyu. No sheeran, in this young gentleman's quarters, just you imagine what a pitch things would reach. That fix in Feng may truly resemble the prince Ba of the true kingdom, and she may have two arms strong enough to raise a tripod weighing a thousand katties. But had she not this made, heingar, would she be able to accomplish everything so thoroughly? In days gone by, heingar interposed, four servant girls came along with her. But what with those who've died and those who've gone, only I remain, like a solitary spirit. You're, after all, the fortunate one, Li Wan retorted, but our hussy Feng too is lucky in having you. Had I not also once just remember two girls when your senior master Zhu was alive? Am I not? You've seen for yourselves, a person to bear with people? But in such a surly frame of mind did I find them both, day after day, that as soon as your senior master departed this life, I availed myself of their youth, to give them in marriage and to pack both of them out of my place. But had either of them been good for anything and worthy to be kept, I would in fact have now had someone to give me a helping hand. As she spoke, the very balls of her eyes suddenly became quite red. Why need you again to stress your mind? They with one voice exclaimed, Isn't it better that we should break up? While conversing, they rinsed their hands, and when they had agreed to go in a company to dowage your lady jazz and madam wongs and inquire after their health, the matrons and servant maids swept the pavilion and collected and washed the cups and saucers. Xiren proceeded on her way along with Ping'er. Come into my room, said Xiren to Ping'er, and sit down and have another cup of tea. I won't have any tea just now, Ping'er answered. I'll come some other time. So saying, she was about to go off when Xiren called out to her and stopped her. This month's allowances, she asked, haven't yet been issued, not even to our old mistress and madam wong. Why is it? Upon catching this inquiry, Ping'er hastily retraced her steps and drew near Xiren After looking about to see that no one was in the neighborhood, she rejoined in a low tone of voice, dropped these questions at once. They're sure anyhow, to be issued in a couple of days. Why is it? smiled Xiren, that this gives you such a start. This month's allowances, Ping'er explained to her in a whisper, have long ago been obtained in advance by our mistress Sukunda and given to people for their own purposes. And it's when the interest has been brought from here and there that the various sums will be lumped together and payment be affected. I confide this to you, but mind, you mustn't go and tell any other person about it. Isn't it likely that she hasn't yet enough money for her own requirements? Xiren smiled, or is it that she's still not satisfied? And what's the use of her still going on bothering herself in this way? Isn't it so? Laughed Ping'er, from just handling the funds for this particular item, she has during these last few years so manipulated then as to turn up several hundreds of tales profit out of them. Nor does she spend that monthly allowance of hers for public expenses, but the moment she accumulates anything like eight or ten tales odd, she gives them out too. Thus the interest on her own money alone comes up to nearly a thousand tales a year. You and your mistress take our money, Xiren observed laughingly, and get interest on it, fooling us as if we were no better than idiots. Here you are again with your uncharitable words, Ping'er remonstrated. Can it be that you haven't yet enough to meet your own expenses with? I am, it's true, not short of money, Xiren replied, as I have nowhere to go and spend it. But the thing is that I'm making provision for that fellow of ours, Baoyu. If you ever find yourself in any great straits and need money, Ping'er resumed, you're of liberty to take those first few tales I've got over there to suit your own convenience with, and by and by I can reduce them from what is due to you and will be square. I'm not in need of any just now, retorted Xiren, but shall I not have enough when I want some? I'll send someone to fetch them and finish. Ping'er promised that she would let her have the money at any time she sent for it, and, taking the shortest cut, she issued out of the garden gate. Here she encountered a servant dispatched from the other side by Lady Feng. She came in search of Ping'er. Our lady, she said, has something for you to do and is waiting for you. What's up, but it's so pressing, Ping'er inquired. Our senior mistress detained me by force to have a chat, so I couldn't manage to get away. Here she time after time sends people after me in this manner. Whether you go or not is your own lookout, the maid replied. It isn't worth your while getting angry with me. If you dare, go and tell these things to our mistress. Ping'er spat at her contemptuously and rushed back in anxious haste. She discovered, however, that Lady Feng was not at home, but unexpectedly she perceived that the old Goody Flu, who had paid them a visit on a previous occasion for the purpose of obtaining pecuni-ary assistance, had come again with Ban'ar and was seated in the opposite room, along with Zhang Zai's wife and Zhou Rui's wife, who kept her company. But two or three servant maids were inside as well, emptying on the floor bags containing dates, squash, and various wild greens. As soon as they saw her appear in the room, they promptly stood up in a body. Old Goody Yu had, on her last visit, learned what Ping'er's status in the establishment was. So vehemently jumping down, she inquired, Miss, how do you do? All at home, she pursued, send you their compliments. I meant to have come earlier and paid my respects to my Lady and to look you up, Miss, but we've been very busy on the farm. We managed this year to reap after great labour a few more pickles of grain than usual, but melons, fruits, and vegetables have also been plentiful. These things you see here are what we picked during the first crop, and as we didn't presume to sell them, we kept the best to present to our Lady and the young ladies to taste. The young ladies must, of course, be surfaded with all the delicacies and fine things they daily get, but by having some of our wild greens to eat, they will show some regard for our poor attention. Many thanks for all the trouble you have taken. Ping'er eagerly rejoined. Then, pressing her to resume her place, she sat down herself and, urging Mrs. Zhang and Mrs. Zhou to take their seats, she bade a young waiting maid go and serve the tea. There's a joyous air about your face today, Miss, and your eyeballs are all red. The wife of Zhou Rui and the wife of Zhang Zai thereupon smilingly ventured. Naturally, Ping'er laughed. I generally don't take any wine, but our senior mistress and our young ladies caught hold of me and insisted upon pouring it down my throat. I had no alternative, therefore, but to swallow two cups full, so my face at once flushed crimson. I have a longing for wine. Zhang Zai's wife smiled, but there's no one to offer me any. But when anyone by and by invites you, Miss, do take me along with you. At these words, one and all burst out laughing. Barely this morning, Zhou Rui's wife interposed. I got a glimpse of those crabs. Only two or three of them would weigh a catty, so in those two or three huge hampers, there have been, I presume, 70 to 80 caddies. If some were intended for those above as well as for those below, Zhou Rui's wife added, they couldn't, nevertheless, I fear, have been enough. How could everyone have had any, Ping'er observed, though simply with any name may have tasted a couple of them, but as for the rest, some may have touched them with the tips of their hands, and may not even have done as much. Crab's of this kind, put in old goodie Lu, cost this year five candorines a catty, ten caddies for five mace, five times five makes two tails five, and three times five makes 15. And adding what was wanted for wines and eatables, the total must have come to something over 20 tails. Why, this heap of money is ample for us country people to live on through a whole year. I expect you have seen our lady, Ping'er, then asked. Yes, I have seen her, assented old goodie Lu. She made us wait. As she spoke, she again looked out of the window to see what the time of day could be. It's getting quite late, she afterwards proceeded. We must be going, or else we may end to be in time to get out of the city gates, and then we'll be in a nice fix. Quite right. Zhou Rui's wife observed, I'll go and see what she's up to for you. With these words, she straight away left the room. After a long absence, she returned. Good fortune has indeed descended upon you, old Dane. She smiled. Why, you won the consideration of those two old ladies. What about it? Laughing we inquired Ping'er and the others. Lady Secunda, Zhou Rui's wife, explained with a smile, was with our venerable lady. So I gently whispered to her, old goodie Lu, wishes to go home. It's getting late, and she fears she mightn't be in time to go out of the gates. It's such a long way off. Our lady Secunda rejoined, and she had all the trouble and fatigue of carrying that load of things. So if it's too late, why, let her spend the night here and start on the morrow. Now isn't this having enlisted our mistress of sympathies? But not to speak of this. Our old lady also happened to overhear what we said, and she inquired, Who is old goodie Lu? Our lady Secunda forthwith told her all. I was just longing, her venerable ladyship pursued, for someone well up in years to have a chat with. Ask her in and let me see her. So isn't this coming in for consideration, when least unexpected? So speaking, she went on to urge old goodie Lu to get down and but take herself to the front. With a figure like this of mine, old goodie Lu demurred. How could I very well appear before her? My dear sister-in-law, do tell her that I've gone. Get on! Be quick! Hanging our speedily cried. What does it matter? Our old lady has the highest regard for old people and the greatest pity for the needy. She's not one you could compare with those haughty and overbearing people. But I fancy you're a little too timid, so I'll accompany you as far as there, along with Mrs. Zhou. While tendering her services, she and Zhou Wei's wife let off old goodie Lu and crossed over to Dowager Lady Dad's apartments on this side of the mansion. The boy's servants on duty at the second gate stood up when they saw Ping'ar approach. But two of them also ran up to her and, keeping close to her heels, Miss! they shouted out, Miss! What have you got again to say? Ping'ar asked. It's pretty late just now. One of the boys smilingly remarked, Mother is ill and wants me to go and call the doctor. So I would, dear Miss, like to have half a day's leave. May I? Your doings are really fine. Ping'ar exclaimed. You've agreed among yourselves that each day one of you should apply for furlough. But instead of speaking to your lady, you come and bother me. The other day that Zhou'er went, Mr. Secundice happened not to want him, so I assented, though I also added that I was doing it as a favour. But here you two come today. It's quite true that his mother is sick. Zhou'er's wife interceded. So, Miss, do say yes to him also and let him go. Be back as soon as it dawns tomorrow. Ping'ar enjoined. Wait! I've got something for you to do. For you'll again sleep away and only turn up after the sun has blazed away on your buttocks. As you go now, give a message to Wang'ar. Tell him that our lady bade you warn him that if he does not hand over the balance of the interest due by tomorrow, she won't have anything to do with him. So he'd better let her have it to meet her requirements and finish. The servant lad felt in high glee and exuberant spirits. Expressing his obedience, he walked off. Ping'ar and her companions repaired them to old lady dad's apartments. Here the various young ladies from the Garden of Broadvista were at the time assembled paying their respects to their grandmother. As soon as old Goody E put her foot inside, she saw the room thronged with girls as seductive as twigs of flowers waving to and fro and so richly dressed as to look enveloped in pearls and encircled with kingfisher ornaments. But she could not make out who they all were. Her gaze was, however, attracted by an old dame reclining alone on a divan. Behind her sat a girl, a regular beauty clothed in gauze, engaged in patting her legs. Lady Feng was on her feet in the act of cracking some jolk. Old Goody Li readily concluded that it must be Old Lady Jia so promptly pressing forward she put on a forced smile and made several curtsies. My old basins to you star of longevity she said. Old Lady Jia hastened on her part to bow and to inquire after her health. Then she asked Zhou Dui's wife to bring over a chair for her to take a seat. But Banar was still so very shy to make his obeisance. Vulnerable relative Dowager Lady Jia asked, How old are you this year? Old Goody Li immediately rose to her feet. I'm 75 this year. She rejoined. So old and yet so hardy. Old Lady Jia remarked addressing herself to the party. Why? She's older than myself by several years. When I reach that age I wonder whether I should be able to move. We people have Old Goody Li smilingly resumed to put up from the moment we come into the world with ever so many hardships while your venerable ladieship enjoys from your birth every kind of blessing where we also like this there'd be no one to carry on that farming work. Are your eyes and teeth still good? Dowager Lady Jia went on to inquire. They're both still alright. Old Goody Li replied, The left molars however have got rather shaky this year. As for me, I'm quite an old fossil. Dowager Lady Jia observed, I'm no good whatever. My eyesight is dim, my ears are deaf, my memory is gone. I can't even recollect any of you old family connections. When therefore any of our relations come on a visit I don't see them for fearless I should be ridiculed. All I can manage to eat are a few mouthfuls of anything tender enough for my teeth and I can just dose a bit or when I feel in low spirits I distract myself a little with these grand sons and granddaughters of mine that's all I'm good for. This is indeed your venerable ladyship's good fortune. Old Goody Li smiled, We couldn't enjoy anything of the kind much that we may long for it. What good fortune Dowager Lady Jia exclaimed, I'm a useless old thing no more. This remark made everyone explode into laughter. End of the Dream of the Red Chamber Section 28 End of the Dream of the Red Chamber Book 2 by Zhao Xueqing translated by Henry Bencraft Jolie Chapter 39 Part 1 Section 29 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 Read by Mara Bella The Dream of the Red Chamber Book 2 by Zhao Xueqing translated by Henry Bencraft Jolie Chapter 39 Part 2 Dowager Lady Jia also laughed, I heard our Lady Feng say a little while back she added that you had brought a lot of squash and vegetables and I told her to put them by at once. I had just been craving to have newly grown melons and vegetables but those one buys outside are not as luscious as those produced in your farms. This is the drastic notion Old Gris Lyu laughed to entirely subsist on fresh things yet we long to have fish and meat for our affair but we can't afford it. I've found a relative in you today. Dowager Lady Jia said so you shouldn't go empty handed. If you don't despise this place as too mean do stay a day or two before you start. We've also got a garden here and this garden produces fruits too. You can taste some of them tomorrow and take a few along with you home in order to make it look like a visit to relatives. When Lady Feng saw how delighted Old Lady Jia was less with the prospects of the old dame's stay she too lost no time in doing all she could to induce her to remain. Our place here she urged isn't it's true as spacious as your threshing floor but as we've got two vacant rooms you'd better put up in them for a couple of days and choose some of your village news and old stories and recount them to our worthy senior. Now you Vixen Feng smile Dowager Lady Jia don't raise a laugh at her expense she's only a country woman and will an old dame like her stand any chaff from you. While remonstrating with her she bade a servant go before attending to anything else and pluck a few fruits these she handed to Banar to eat but Banar did not venture to touch them conscious as he was of the presence of such a number of bystanders so Old Lady Jia gave orders that a few cash should be given him and then directed the pages to take him outside to play. After sipping a cup of tea Old Goodie Lyu began to relate for the benefit of Dowager Lady Jia a few of the occurrences she had seen or heard of in the country these had the effect of putting Old Lady Jia in a more exuberant frame of mind but in the midst of her narration a servant at Lady Feng's insistence asked Goodie Lyu to go and have her evening meal Dowager Lady Jia then picked out as well several kinds of eatables from her own repast and charged someone to take them to Goodie Lyu to feast on but the consciousness that the Old Dame had taken her seniors fancy induced Lady Feng to send her back again as soon as she had taken some refreshments on her arrival Yuan Yang hastily deputed a matron to take Goodie Lyu to have a bath she herself then went and selected two pieces of ordinary clothes and these she entrusted to a servant to hand to the Old Dame to change Goodie Lyu had hitherto not set eyes upon any such grand things so with eagerness she affected the necessary alterations in her costume this over she made her appearance outside and sitting in front of the Divan occupied by Dowager Lady Jia she went on to narrate as many stories as she could recall to mind Bao Yu and his cousins too were at the time assembled in the room and as they had never before heard anything the like of what she said they of course thought her tales more full of zest than those related by itinerant blind storytellers Old Goodie Lyu was, albeit a rustic person gifted by nature with a good deal of discrimination she was besides advanced in years and had gone through many experiences in her lifetime so when she, in the first place saw how extremely delighted Old Lady Jia was with her and in the second how eager the whole crowd of young lads and lasses were to listen to what fell from her mouth she even invented when she found her own stock exhausted a good many yarns to recount to them what with all the sewing we have to do in our fields and the vegetables we have to plant she consequently proceeded have we ever in our village any leisure to sit with lazy hands from year to year and day to day no matter whether it's spring, summer, autumn or winter whether it blows or whether it rains yay day after day all that we can do is to turn the bare road into a kind of pavilion to rest and cool ourselves on but what strange things don't we see last winter, for instance snow fell for several consecutive days and it piled up on the ground three or four feet deep one day I got up early but I hadn't as yet gone out of the door of our house when I heard outside the noise of firewood being moved I fancied that someone must have come to steal it so I crept up to a hole in the window but lo, I discovered that it was no one from our own village it must have been interposed Dowager Lady Jia some wayfarers who, being smitten with the cold took some of the firewood they saw ready at hand to go and make a fire and warm themselves with that's highly probable it was no wayfarers at all old goodie Liu retorted smiling and that's what makes the story so strange who do you think it was venerable star of longevity it was really a most handsome girl of 17 or 18 whose hair was combed as smooth as if oil had been poured over it dressed in a deep red jacket a white silk petticoat when she reached this part of her narrative suddenly became audible the voices of people bawling outside it's nothing much they shouted don't frighten our old mistress Dowager Lady Jia and the other inmates caught however their cries and hurriedly inquired what had happened the servant made explained in reply that a fire had broken out in the stables in the southern court but that there was no danger as the flames had been suppressed their old grandmother was a person with very little nerve the moment therefore the report fell on her ear she jumped up with all dispatch and leaning on one of the family she rushed on to the veranda to ascertain the state of things at the site of the still brilliant light shed by the flames on the southeast part of the compound old lady Jia was plunged in consternation and invoking Buddha she went on to shout to the servants to go and burn incense before the god of fire Madam Wang and the rest of the members of the household lost no time in crossing over in a body to see how she was getting on the fire has already been extinguished they too assured her please dear ancestor repair into your rooms but it was only after old lady Jia had seen the light of the flames entirely subside that she at length led the whole company indoors what was that girl up to taking the firewood in that heavy fall of snow for you thereupon vehemently inquired of Goody Liu what if she had got frostbitten and fallen ill it was the reference made recently to the firewood that was being abstracted his grandmother Jia said that brought about this fire and do you still go on asking more about it leave this story alone and tell us something else hearing this reminder Bao Yu felt constrained to drop the subject much against his wishes an old Goody Liu forthwith thought of something else to tell them in our village she resumed and on the eastern side of our farmstead there lives an old Dame whose age is this year over 90 she goes in daily for fasting and worshiping Buddha who would have thought it she so moved the pity of the goddess of mercy that she gave her this message in a dream it was at one time ordained that you should have no posterity but as you have proved so devout I have now memorialized the pearly emperor to grant you a grandson the fact is this old Dame had one son this son had two and only son but he died after they had with great difficulty managed to rear him to the age of 17 or 18 and what tears didn't they shed for him but in course of time another son was actually born to him this year just 13 or 14 resembles a very ball of flour so plump is he and is clever and sharp to an exceptional degree so this is indeed a clear proof that those spirits and gods do exist this long tirade proved to be in harmony with Dowager Lady Daz and Madame Wong's secret convictions on the subject even Madame Wong therefore listened to every word with all profound attention Bao Yu however was so preoccupied with the story about the stolen firewood that he fell in a brown study and gave way to conjectures yesterday 10 twin at this point remarked we put Cousinsher to a lot of trouble and inconvenience so when we get back we must consult about convening a meeting and while returning her entertainment we can also invite our venerable ancestor to come and admire the chrysanthemums what do you think of this oh worthy senior smiled Bao Yu has intimated that she means to give a banquet to return Cousinsher's hospitality and to ask us to do the honors let's wait therefore until we partake of grandmother's collation before we issue our own invitations there will be ample time then to do so the later it gets the cooler the weather becomes 10 twin observed and our dear senior is not likely to enjoy herself grandmother added Bao Yu is also fond of rain and snow so wouldn't it be as well to wait until the first fall and then ask her to come and look at the snow this will be better won't it and were we to recite our verses with snow about us it will be ever so much more fun to hum verses in the snow Lin Bao Yu speedily demurred with a smile won't in my idea be half as nice as building up a heap of firewood and then stealing it with the flakes playing about us this will be by far more enjoyable this proposal made Bao Chai and the others laugh Bao Yu cast a glance at her but made no reply but in a short time the company broke up Bao Yu eventually gave Old Goody Liu a tug on the sly and plied her with minute questions as to who the girl was the old dame was placed under the necessity of fabricating something for his benefit the truth is she said that there stands on the north bank of the ditch in our village a small ancestral hall in which offerings are made but not to spirits or gods there was in former days some official or other while speaking she went on to try and recollect his name and surname no matter about names or surnames Bao Yu expostulated there's no need for you to recall them to memory just mention the facts they'll be enough his official Old Goody Liu resumed had no son his offspring consisted of one young daughter who went under the name of Bao Yu like Jade she could read and write and was doted upon by this official and his consort just as if she were a precious jewel but unfortunately when this young lady Bao Yu grew up to be 17 she contracted some disease and die when these words fell on Bao Yu's ears he stamped his foot and heaved a sigh what happened after that he then asked Old Goody Liu pursued her story so incessantly she continued did this official and his consort think of their child and raised this ancestral hall erected a clay image of their young daughter Bao Yu in it and appointed someone to burn incense and trim the fires but so many days and years have now elapsed that the people themselves are no more alive the temple is in decay and the image itself is become a spirit it hasn't become a spirit remonstrated Bao Yu with vehemence human beings of this kind may the rule is die yet they are not dead oh me tofu ejaculated Old Goody Liu is it really so had you sir not enlightened us we would have remained under the impression that she had become a spirit but she repeatedly transforms herself into a human being and there she roams about in every village farmstead in and roadside and the one I mentioned just now as having taken the firewood is that very girl the villagers in our place are still consulting with the idea of breaking this clay image and raising the temple to the ground be quick dissuade them eagerly exclaimed Bao Yu were they to raise the temple to the ground their crime won't be small it's lucky that you told me sir Old Goody Liu added when I get back tomorrow I'll make them relinquish the idea and finish our venerable senior and my mother Bao Yu pursued both charitable persons in fact all the inmates of our family whether old or young do in like manner delight in good deeds and take pleasure in distributing alms their greatest relish is to repair temples and to put up images to the spirits so tomorrow I'll make a subscription and collect a few donations for you and act as incense burner when sufficient money has been raised this thing can be repaired and another clay image put up and month by month I'll give you incense and fire money to enable you to burn joss sticks won't this be a good thing for you in that case Old Goody Liu rejoined I shall thanks to that young lady's good fortune have also a few cash to spend Bao Yu there upon likewise wanted to know what the name of the place was the name of the village how far it was there and back and where about the temple was situated Old Goody Liu replied to his questions by telling him every idle thought that came first to her lips Bao Yu however credited the information she gave him and on his return to his rooms he exercised the whole night his mind with building castles in the air on the morrow as soon as daylight dawned he speedily stepped out of his room and handing beaming several hundreds of cash he bade him proceed first in the direction and to the place specified by Old Goody Liu and clearly ascertain every detail so as to enable him on his return from his errand to arrive at a suitable decision to carry out his purpose after beaming's departure Bao Yu continued on pins and needles and on the tiptoe of expectation into such a pitch of excitement did he work himself that he felt like an ant in a burning pan with suppressed impatience he waited and waited until sunset at last then he perceived beaming walk in in high glee have you discovered the place hastily inquired Bao Yu master beaming laughed you didn't catch distinctly the directions given you and you made me search in a nice way the name of the place and the bearings can't be those you gave me sir that is why I've had to hunt about the whole day long I prosecuted my inquiries up to the very ditch on the northeast side before I eventually found a ruined temple upon hearing the result of his researches Bao Yu was much gratified his very eyebrows distended his eyes laughed old glee he said with eagerness is a person well up in years and she may at the moment have remembered wrong it's very likely she did but recount to me what you saw the door of that temple beaming explained really faces south and is all in a tumbledown condition I searched and searched till I was driven to utter despair as soon however as I caught sight of it that's right I shouted and promptly walked in but I at once discovered a clay figure which gave me such a fearful start that I scampered out again for it looked as much alive as if it were a real living being Bao Yu smiled full of joy it can metamorphose itself into a human being he observed so of course it has more or less a lifelike appearance was it ever a girl beaming rejoined clapping his hands why it was in fact no more than a green faced and red haired god of plagues Bao Yu at this answer spat at him contemptuously you are in very truth a useless fool he cried haven't you even enough gumption for such a trifling job as this what book I wonder have you been reading master beaming continued or you may perhaps have heard someone prattle a lot of trash and believed it is true you send me on this sort of wild goose chase and make me go and knock my head about and how can you ever say that I'm good for nothing Bao Yu did not fail to notice that he was in a state of exasperation so he lost no time in trying to calm him don't be impatient he urged you can go again some other day when you've got nothing to attend to and institute further inquiries if it turns out that she has hoodwigged us why there will naturally be no such thing but if verily there is won't you also lay up for yourself a store of good deeds I shall feel it my duty to reward you in a most handsome manner as he spoke he espied a servant lad on service at the second gate approach and report to him the young ladies in our venerable ladieship's apartments are standing at the threshold of the second gate and looking out for you Mr. Secundus but as reader you are not aware what they were on the lookout to tell him the subsequent chapter will explain it for you end of section 29 section 30 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 Chiao Xuqin translated by Henry Bancraft Jolie chapter 40 part 1 the venerable lady Xi attends a second banquet in the garden of Brock Wister Jin Yuanyang many times promulgates by means of dominoes the order to quote passages from old writers as soon as Bao Yu we will now explain what the lad told him rushed with eagerness inside when he came to look about him he discovered Wu Po standing in front of the screen be quick and go she urged they are waiting to speak to you Bao Yu went his way into the drawing rooms here he found W. Lady Jia consulting with Madam Wang and the whole body of young ladies about the return feast to be given to Xi Xiangyuan I've got a plan to suggest he consequently interposed as there are to be no outside guests the eatables too should not be limited to any kind or number a few of such dishes as have ever been to the liking of any of us should be fixed upon and prepared for the occasion neither should any banquet be spread but a high teapoy can be placed in front of each with one or two things to suit our particular tastes besides a painter box with petitions and a decanter won't this be an original way? capital show the old lady Jia go and tell the people in the coke house she forthwith ordered a servant to get ready tomorrow such dishes as we release and to put them in as many boxes as there will be people and bring them over we can have breakfast too in the garden but while they were deliberating the time came to light the lamps nothing of any note transpired the whole night the next day they got up at early dawn the weather fortunately was beautifully clear we went turn out of bed at daybreak she was engaged in watching the old matrons and surfing girls sweeping the fallen leaves rubbing the tables and chairs and preparing the tea and wine vessels when she perceived for her usher in old Gu Di Liu and Bunger you're very busy our senior lady they said I told you that you wouldn't manage to start yesterday you weren't smiled but you were in a hurry to get away you're worthy old lady Gu Di Liu replied lovingly wouldn't let me go she wanted me to enjoy myself too for a day before I went Bunger then produced several large and small keys our mistress Lian says she remarked that she fears that the high tea points which are out are not enough and she thinks it would be as well to open the loft and take out those that are put away and use them for a day our lady should really have come and seen to it in person but as she has something to tell Madam Wang she begs your ladieship to open the place and get a few servants to bring them out Liu Wen there and then told Xu Yuan to take the keys she also made a matron go out and call a few servant boys from those on duty at the second gate when they came Liu Wen remained in the lower story of the dark one loft and looking up she ordered the servants to go and open the jie jing hall and to bring the tea points one by one the young servant leds matrons and servant mates then set to work in the body and carried out over 20 of them be careful with them shouted Liu Wen don't be bustling about just as if you were being pursued by ghosts mind you don't break the tenants turning her head round all day she observed addressing herself smilingly to Gu Di Liu go upstairs too and have a look oh Gu Di Liu was longing to satisfy her curiosity so as the bear mentioned of the permission she uttered just one word come and dragging Barnard along she trudged up the stairs on her rival inside she aspired pile upon pile a whole heap of screens tables and chairs painted lanterns of different sizes and other similar articles she could not, it is true make out the use of the various things but at the sight of so many colors of such finery of the unusual beauty of each article she muttered time after time the name of Buddha and then forthwith went her way downstairs subsequently the servants locked the doors and every one of them came down I fancy cried Liu Wen that our Taoja lady will feel disposed to go on the water so you'd better also get the pose orbs and awnings orbs and keep them in readiness the servants expressed their obedience once more they unlocked the doors and carried down everything required she then paid a let notified the bull women go to the dock and punt out two bows but while all this buzzle was going on they discovered that Taoja Lady Jia had already arrived at the head of a whole company of people one promptly went up to greet them dear venerable senior she smiled you must be in good spirits to have come in here imagining that you hadn't as yet combed your hair I just plucked a few presentiments meaning to send them to you while she spoke be a year at once presented to her a jadeite tray of the size of a lotus leaf containing twigs cut from pieces of chrysanthemum already Jia selected a cluster of deep red and pinned it in her hair about her temples but turning round she noticed oh goodie Liu come over here she vehemently cried with a smile and put on a few flowers scarcely was this remark concluded then Lady Feng dragged goodie Liu forward let me deck you up she laughed with these words she seized a whole plate full of flowers and stuck them three this way four that way or over her head only Jia and the whole party were greatly amused so much so that they could not check themselves I wonder shall the goodie Liu smiling what blessings I have brought upon my head that such honors are conferred upon it today you yet pull them away they all laughed and chucked them in her face she has got you up in such a way as to make a regular old elf of you I am an old hag I admit goodie Liu pursued with a laugh but when I was young I too was pretty and fond of flowers and powder but the best thing I can do now is to keep to such finalries as befit my advanced age while they banded words and urged the Qingfeng Pavilion the wedding-mates brought a large embroidered rug and spread it over the planks of the divan near the ballast raid on this rug how shall Lady Jia sat with a bag leaning against the railing and inviting goodie Liu to also take a seat next to her is this garden nice or not she asked her old goodie Liu invoked Buddha several times she rejoined do invariably come at the close of each year into the city and buy pictures and seek them about and frequently do we find ourselves in our leisure moments wondering how we too could manage to get into the pictures and walk about the scenes they represent I presumed that those pictures were purely and simply fictitious how could there be such places in reality but contrary to my expectations I found as soon as I entered this garden today and had a look about it that it was after all a hundred times better than these varied pictures but if only I could get someone to make me a sketch of this garden to take home with me and let them see it so that when we die we may have ripped some benefits upon catching the wish she expressed naturally the jar pointed at Sichuan look at that young granddaughter of mine she smiled she's got a neck of drawing so what do you say to my asking her tomorrow to make a picture for you this suggestion filled Odin Liu with enthusiasm and speedily crossing over she clasped Sichuan's in her arms and even missed she cried so young in years and yet so pretty and so accomplished too may ent you be a spirit come to life after old lady jar had had a little rest she in person took Odin Liu and showed her everything there was to be seen first they visited the Xiaoxiao lodge the moment they stepped into the entrance a narrow avenue flanked on either side with kingfisher like the bulls met their gaze the earth below was turfed all over with moss in the center extended a torturous road paved with pebbles good Liu left Daoja lady jar and the party walked on the raised road while she herself stepped on the earth but Wu Po tucked at her come up Odin and walk here she exclaimed it is slippery and you might fall I don't mind it answered good Liu we people are accustomed to walking on such slippery things so young ladies please proceed and to look after your embroidered shoes don't splash them with mud but while bent upon talking with those who kept on the raised road she unwares reached a spot which was actually slippery and with a sound of kutong she tumbled over the whole company clapped their hands and laughed boisterously you young wench shouted out Daoja lady jar don't you yet raise her up but stand by giggling this reprimand was still being uttered when good Liu had already crawled up she too was highly amused just as my mouth was dragging she observed I got a whack on the lips have you perchance twisted your waist in quite old lady jar tell the servant girls to pat it for you what an idea retorted good Liu am I so delicate what did ever goes by without my tumbling down a couple of times and if I had to be pat it every time wouldn't it be dreadful she too had at an early period raised a speckled bamboo potty Daoja lady jar and her companions entered and seated themselves Lin Da Yu with her own hands took a small tray and came to present a cup of tea to her grandmother we won't have any tea Madam Wang in the post so miss you didn't pour any Lin Da Yu hearing this paid a wedding maid fetch the chair from under the window where she herself often sat and moving it to the lower side she pressed Madam Wang into it but good Liu caught sight of the pencils and ink slabs lying on a table placed next to the window and as by the bookcase piled up to the utmost with boats this must surely be all being ejaculated be some young gentlemen's study this is the room of this granddaughter-in-law of mine Daoja lady jar explained to Da Yu continue scrutinized Lin Da Yu with intenseness for a while is this anything like a young lady's private room she didn't observe with a smile why? in fact it is superior to any first-class library how is it I don't see Bao Yu his grandmother jar went on to inquire he is in the boat on the pond the wedding maid with one voice returned for answer who also got the boats ready? old lady jar asked the loft was open just now so they were taken out Liu Wen said and as I thought that you might vulnerable senior feel inclined to have a role I got everything ready after listening to this explanation Daoja lady jar was about to pass some remark but someone came and reported to her that Mrs. Share had arrived no sooner had old lady jar and the others sprung to their feet than they noticed that Mrs. Share had already made her appearance while taking a seat your vulnerable leadership she smiled must be in capital spirits today to have come at this early hour it's only this very minute that I proposed that anyone who came late should be fine Daoja lady jar laughed and would have thought it whether you Mrs. Share arrived late after they had indulged in good human rhetoric for a time only the jar's attention was attracted by the faded color of the gauze on the windows and she addressed herself to Madam Wang this gauze she said may have been nice enough but it was newly pasted but after a time nothing remained of camefisher green in this gauze too there were peach or apricot trees and these bamboos already are green in themselves so where this shade of green gauze to be put up again it would instead of improving matters not harmonize with the surroundings I remember that we had at one time four or five kinds of colored gauzes for sticking on windows so give her some tomorrow to change that on there when I opened the store yesterday hastily put in Lady Feng I noticed that there were still in those boxes made of large planks several rows of cicada wing gauze of silvery red color there were also several rows with designs of twigs of flowers of every kind several with the rolling clouds and bats pattern and several with figures representing hundreds of butterflies interspersed among flowers the colors of all these were fresh and a gauze supple but I failed to see anything of the kind you speak of where two rows thickened from those I referred to and a couple of bad covers of embroidered gauze made out of them they would, I fancy be a pretty sight pay laughed old lady jar everyone says that there is nothing you haven't gone through and nothing you haven't seen and don't you even know what this gauze is will you again brag by and by after this Mrs. Cher and all the others smiled she may have gone through a good deal they remarked but how can she ever presume to pit herself against an old lady like you so why don't you venerable senior tell her what it is so that we too may be edified Lady Feng too gave a smile and asked her, she pleaded to tell me what it is like Daoja Lady Jiao thereupon proceeded to enlighten Mrs. Cher and the whole company that gauze is older in years than anyone of you, she said it isn't therefore to be wondered if you make a mistake and take it for cicada wing gauze but it really bears some resemblance to it so much so indeed that anyone not knowing the difference imagine it to be the cicada wing gauze its true name however is soft smoke silk this is also a nice sounding name Lady Feng agreed but up to the age I've reached I've never heard of any such destination in spite of the many hundreds of specimens of gauzes and silks I've seen how long can you have lived Oli Di Jiao added smilingly and how many kinds of things can you have met that you indulge in this tall talk of this soft smoke silk there only exist four kinds of colors the one is red blue the other is rosette the other pine green the other silvery red and it's because when made into curtains or stuck on window frames it looks from far like smoke or mist that it is called soft smoke silk the silvery red is also called rosette shadow gauze among the gauzes used in the present day in the palace above there are none so supple and rich light and closely woven as this not to speak of that girl Feng not having seen it is a sheer laugh why even I have never so much as heard anything of it while the conversation proceeded in this strain Feng was soon directed a servant to fetch a robe now isn't this the kind Daoja Li Di Jiao exclaimed at first we simply had it stuck on the window frames but we subsequently used it for covers and curtains just for a trial and really they were splendid so you had better tomorrow try and find several rows and take some of the silvery red one and have it fixed on the windows for her while Li Di Feng promised to attend to her commission the parties scrutinized it and unanimously extolled it with effusion okutilu to strain her eyes and examine it and her lips incessantly muttered Buddha's name we couldn't she ventured afford to make clothes of such stuff much though we may long to do so and won't it be a pity to use it sticking on windows but it doesn't after all look well when made into clothes all Li Di Jiao exclaimed Li Di Feng hastily pulled out the lapel of the deep red brocaded ghost jacket she had on and facing Daoja Li Di Jiao and Mrs. Xie look at this jacket of mine she remarked this is also of first-rate quality all Li Di Jiao and Mrs. Xie rejoined this is nowadays made in the palace for imperial use but it can't possibly come up to this is such thin stuff Li Di Feng observed and do you still say that it was made in the palace for imperial use why it doesn't in fact compare favorably with even this which is won by officials with better search again all Li Di Jiao urged I believe there must be more of it if there be bring it all out and give this old relative Liu a couple of rows should there be any red blue or mega curtain to hang up or remains can be matched with some lining and cut into a few double waist coats for the waiting mates to wear it would be sheer waist to keep these things as they will be spoiled by the damp Li Di Feng vehemently acquires after which she told a servant to take the course away these rooms are so small Li Di Jiao than observed smiling we are better go elsewhere for a stroll everyone says all good Li Li put in that big people live in big houses when I saw yesterday your main apartments Li Di with all those large boxes immense presses tables and spacious beds to match they did indeed present an imposing sight those presses are larger than our whole house yeah loftier too but strange to say there were letters in the backcourt they don't also I thought go up to the house tops to sun things so what can they keep those letters in readiness for well after that I remembered required for opening the presses to take out or put in things and that without those letters how could one ever reach that height but now that I've also seen these small rooms more luxuriously got up than the large ones and full of various articles also fascinating and hardly even known to me by name I feel the more I feast my eyes on them the more unable to tear myself away from them there are other things still better than this ladyfarm added I'll take you to see them all saying this they straightway left the Xiaoshan lodge from a distance they spied a whole crowd of people punting the boats in the lake as they've got the boats ready already job proposed we may as well go and have a role in them as she uttered this suggestion they went their steps along the particularly covered bank of the purple lily isle but before reaching the lake they perceived several matrons advancing that way with large multi-colored boxes in their hands made all alike of twisted wire and inlaid with gold ladyfarm hastened to inquire of madam Wang where breakfast was to be served ask our venerable senior madam Wang replied and let them lay it whatever she pleases already job over at her answer and turning her head round miss tertia she said take the servants and make them lay breakfast wherever you think best we'll get into the boats from here upon catching her senior's wishes ladyfarm which raised her footsteps and accompanied by Li Wen Tan Chun Yuan Yang and Hu Po she let off the servants carrying the tables and other domestics and came by the nearest way to the Qiuxiang library where they arranged the tables in the Xiaotui hall we daily say that whenever the gentleman outside have anything to drink or eat they invariably have someone who can raise a laugh and home taken chef for fun's sake Yuan Yang smiled so let's also today get a female family companion Li Wen being a person full of kindly feelings did not fathom the insinuation though it did not escape her year ladyfarm however thoroughly understood that she alluded to old Gu Di Liu let us too today she smilingly remarked chef her for a bit of fun these two then began to mature their plans Li Wen tried them with a smile new people she said don't know even how to perform the least good act but you are not small children anymore and are you still up to these pranks mine our venerable ancestor might call you to task there has nothing whatever to do with you senior lady Yuan Yang laughed it's my own look out these words were still on her lips when she saw Dao Jiao lady draw and the rest of the company arrive they each said where and how they pleased first and foremost a wedding maid brought two trays of tea after tea ladyfarm laid hold of a napkin made of foreign cloth in which were wrapped a handful of black wood chopsticks encircled with three rings of inlaid silver and distributed them on the tables in the order in which they were placed bring the small hardwood table over holding the jar then exclaimed and let our relative Liu sit next to me here no sooner did the servants hear her order than they hurried to move the table to where she wanted it ladyfarm during this interval made a sign with her eye to Yuan Yang Yuan Yang there and then dragged put the Liu out of the hall and began to impress in a low tone of voice various things on her mind this is the custom which prevails in our household we proceed it and if you disregard it we'll have a laugh at your expanse having arranged everything she had in view they at length returned to their places Mrs. Xie had come over after her meal so she simply seated herself on one side and sipped her tea dao zhe li di zhao with bao yu xiang yun dan yu and bao chai sat at one table the wife took the girls ying chun and her sisters and occupied one table oh gu ti liu took a seat at the table next to dao zhe li di zhao here do for while their old mistress had her reponse a young servant maid usually stood by her to hold a finger bow, yet brush napkin and other such necessaries but Yuan Yang did not of late fulfill any of these duties so when on this occasion she deliberately seized the yet brush and came over and flapped it about the servant girls concluded that she was spent upon playing some tricks upon gu ti liu and they readily withdrew and let her have her way while Yuan Yang attended to herself in post duties she went at the old day miss gu ti liu exclaimed set your mind at ease gu ti liu sat down at the table and took up the chopsticks but so heavy and clumsy did she find them that she could not handle them conveniently the fact is that Lady Feng and Yuan Yang had put their heads together and decided to only assign to gu ti liu a pair of antiquated four-cornered ivory chopsticks inlaid with gold these faults shall the gu ti liu after scrutinizing them are heavier than the very iron lever over at my place however can I move them about this remark had the effect of making everyone explode into a fit of laughter but a married woman standing in the center of the room with a box in her hands attracted their gaze a wedding maid went up to her and removed the cover of the box its contents were two bowls of eatables Liu Wen took one of these and placed it on Daoja Lady Zhao's table while Lady Feng chose the bowl with pigeon's eggs and put it on gu ti liu's table please commence Daoja Lady Zhao uttered from the near side where she sat gu ti liu at this spittily sprung to her feet oh liu oh liu drew a loud voice your eating capacity is as big as that of a buffalo just like an old sow and can't raise your head up then puffing out her cheeks she added not a word the whole party was at first taken quite a back but as soon as they heard the drift of her remarks everyone both high as well as low began to laugh boisterously Xu Yangyun found it so difficult to restrain herself that she spurted out the tea she had in her mouth Lin Daoyu indulged in such a laughter that she was quite out of breath and propping herself up on the table she kept on ejaculating ayo Bao Yu wrote in his grandmother's lab the old lady herself was so amused that she clasped Bao Yu in her embrace and gave way to endearing epithets Madam Wang laughed and pointed at Lady Feng with her finger as for saying a word she could not Mrs. Share had much difficulty in curbing her mirth and she spurted the tea with which her mouth was full all over Tan Chun's pedicode Tan Chun threw the contents of the tea cup she held in her hand over Ying Chun while Xi Chun quitted her seat and pulling her nose away baked her rubber stomach for her below among the lower seats there was not one who was not with Ben's waist and doubled up back some retired to corner and squatting down laughed away others suppressed their laughter and came up and changed the clothes of their young mistresses Lady Feng and Yuen Yang were the only ones who kept their countenance still they continued having Ogu Diliu to food Ogu Diliu took up the chopsticks even the chickens in this place are fine so went on to add pretending she did not hear what was going on the eggs they laid are small but so dandy how very pretty they are let me help myself to one the company has just managed to check themselves but the moment these words fell on their ears they started again with their laughter Oli Zhang laughed to such an extent that tears streamed from her eyes and so little could she bear the strength any longer that Hu Po stood behind her and pet her this must be the work of that vixen Feng Oli Zhang laughed she has ever been up to tricks like a very imp so be quick and disbelieve all her yarns Ogu Diliu was in the act of praising the eggs as small yet dandy Oli Feng interposed with a smile their one tear each be quick and taste them she said they are not nice when they get cold Ogu Diliu fought with stretch out the chopsticks with the intent of catching one but how could she manage to do so they rolled and rolled in the bow forever so long and it was only after extreme difficulty that she succeeded in shoving one up extending her neck forward she was about to put it in her mouth when it slipped down again and roll on to the floor she hastily banged down the chopsticks and was going herself to pick it up when a servant who stood below got hold of it and took it out of the room Ogu Diliu heaved a sigh a tear she solidified and here it goes without a sound everyone had long ago abandoned all idea of eating and gazing at her they enjoyed the fun who has now brought out these chopsticks again Oli Dijiao went on to ask who haven't invited any strangers or spread any large banquet it must be that the vixen Feng who gave them out but don't you yet change them the servants standing on the floor below had indeed had no hand in getting those ivory chopsticks they had in fact been brought by Li Di Feng and Yuan Yan but when they heard these remarks they hurried to put them away and to change them for a pair similar to those used by the others made of black wood inlaid with silver they have taken away the gold ones Ogu Diliu shouted and here comes silver ones but after all they are not as handy as those we use should there be any points in the vines Li Di Feng observed you can detect it as soon as this silver is dipped into them if there is poison in such vines as these Ogu Diliu added why those of ours must be all asinic but though it be the death of me I will swallow every muscle seeing how amusing the old woman was and with what release she devoured her food Alja Li Di Jia took her own dishes and passed them over to her she then likewise made an old matron take various vines and put them in a bow for Pong Le but presently the repast was concluded and old Li Di Jia and all the other inmates are joined into Tan Chen's bedroom for a chat the remnants were meanwhile cleared away and fresh tables were laid enough section 30