A Crystal World of White Snow and Red Plum; Scented Girls Cut Flesh and Eat Mutton

When Xiangling saw everyone talking and laughing, she went up to them and smiled, “Look at this poem. If it will do, I will go on learning. If it is still no good, I will give up all thought of poetry.” She handed the poem to Daiyu and the others. It read:

Her hidden essence is too bright to conceal;
Her shadow is lovely, her spirit cold.
A thousand li of fulling blocks pound white;
A half moon, a cock crows, the fifth watch wanes.
In green straw cloak on the river, autumn flute;
By red sleeves at the tower, night leans on the rail.
If you have won Chang’e’s ear, you should ask her:
Why does she not let us be forever reunited?

They read it and smiled, “This is not only good, but new, clever, and full of interest. So the saying is true: ‘Nothing in the world is difficult if one has the will.’ The club must certainly invite you.” Xiangling did not believe them; she thought they were only humouring her, and kept asking Daiyu and Baochai.

Just then several little maids and old women came hurrying in, all smiling, “A number of young ladies and mistresses have arrived. We do not know them. You ladies must go and greet your relatives.” Li Wan smiled, “What is this? Tell us plainly whose relatives they are.” The old women and maids smiled, “Both of your younger sisters, madam, have come. There is also a young lady said to be Miss Xue’s sister, and a young gentleman said to be Master Xue’s brother. I am now going to invite Aunt Xue. You ladies go up first.” They went off. Baochai smiled, “Can it be our Xue Ke and his sister?” Li Wan also smiled, “Can my aunt have come to the capital again? They could not all have come together. This is strange.” Wondering, they went to Lady Wang’s main room, where a great crowd filled the floor.

It turned out that Lady Xing’s elder brother and his wife had brought their daughter Xiuyan to the capital to seek Lady Xing’s help. It happened that Xifeng’s brother Wang Ren was also coming to the capital, and the two families had travelled together. Halfway, when they moored their boat, they met Li Wan’s widowed aunt with her two daughters, Li Wen and Li Qi, also going to the capital. They discovered they were relatives, and so the three families travelled together. Later Xue Pan’s younger cousin Xue Ke, because his father had years before betrothed his sister Baoqin to the son of Hanlin Mei in the capital, was bringing her to be married. Hearing Wang Ren was going to the capital, he brought his sister and hurried after. So today they all arrived together to visit their various relatives.

They exchanged greetings and explanations. Grandmother Jia and Lady Wang were delighted. Grandmother Jia smiled, “No wonder the lamp wick sputtered and burst again and again last night, and knotted and knotted. It was foretelling today.” They talked of family matters, received the gifts brought, and ordered wine and food to be kept. Xifeng, needless to say, was busier than ever. Li Wan and Baochai naturally had to talk with their aunts and sisters of all that had happened since they parted. When Daiyu saw this, she was happy at first, then remembered that everyone had relatives while she was alone, with none. She could not help weeping. Baoyu knew her feelings well and comforted her for a long time.

Then Baoyu hurried to Happy Red Court and said to Xiren, Sheyue, Qingwen, and the others, “Why do you not hurry and look at them? Who would have thought Baochai’s own brother was like that, but her cousin in looks and manners is quite different—as if he were her full brother. More strange, you always say Baochai is a peerless beauty. Now look at her younger sister, and Li Wan’s two sisters. I cannot describe them. Heaven, Heaven, how much essence and beauty you have, to produce such people above all others! I am a frog at the bottom of a well. I used to say the few here were unique. But there is no need to look far; right here, each surpasses the other. I have learned something new today. Besides these, can there be any more?” He laughed and sighed at himself. Xiren saw he was possessed again and would not go. Qingwen and the others had already been to look and came back, smiling, “Go quickly and look! Lady Xing’s niece, Miss Bao’s sister, and Mrs. Li’s two sisters are like a bundle of four spring onions.”

Before she finished, Tanchun came in smiling to find Baoyu and said, “Our poetry club will flourish.” Baoyu smiled, “Exactly. It was you who in a happy moment started the club, and now ghosts and gods have sent these people. But one thing: I wonder if they have learned poetry.” Tanchun said, “I just asked them all. Though they are modest, from the look of them, none cannot. Even if not, there is no difficulty. Look at Xiangling.” Xiren smiled, “They say Miss Xue’s sister is even better. What does Third Miss think?” Tanchun said, “It is true. In my view, even her sister and all these cannot compare with her.” Xiren was surprised and smiled, “This is strange. Where could anyone better come from? I must go and see.” Tanchun said, “When Grandmother saw her, she was delighted beyond measure and has already made Lady Wang take her as adopted daughter. Grandmother wants to keep her. It is just settled.” Baoyu was delighted and asked, “Is this true?” Tanchun said, “When have I ever lied?” She smiled again, “Now that she has this good granddaughter, she has forgotten this grandson.” Baoyu smiled, “That does not matter. It is right to love girls more. Tomorrow is the sixteenth; we should start the club.” Tanchun said, “Daiyu is just up, Second Sister is ill again. Things are unsettled.” Baoyu said, “Second Sister does not write much poetry. What does it matter without her?” Tanchun said, “Better wait a few days until the new ones are familiar. Then invite them. Now Li Wan and Baochai have no poetic mood, Xiangyun is not here, Daiyu has just recovered. No one is in the mood. Wait until Yun comes, the new ones are acquainted, Daiyu is well, Li Wan and Baochai are free, and Xiangling has improved. Then a full club would be good. Let us go to Grandmother and hear. Apart from Baochai’s sister, she will certainly stay with us. If the other three are not to stay, we can beg Grandmother to keep them in the Garden. Then we will have more people and it will be more fun.” Baoyu was delighted and said, “You are clear-headed. I am foolish; I only rejoice for a moment and do not think of that.”

Brother and sister went together to Grandmother Jia. Indeed Lady Wang had adopted Baoqin. Grandmother was overjoyed and would not even let her stay in the Garden; at night she slept with Grandmother. Xue Ke stayed in Xue Pan’s study. Grandmother said to Lady Xing, “Your niece need not go home. Let her stay in the Garden a few days and look around before going.” Lady Xing’s brother and sister-in-law were poor and had relied on Lady Xing for lodging and money; they were glad. Lady Xing handed Xiuyan over to Xifeng. Xifeng calculated that there were many sisters with different temperaments, and it was inconvenient to set up a separate place. Better send her to Yingchun. If Xiuyan were unhappy later, even if Lady Xing knew, it would not be Xifeng’s fault. From then on, not counting days at home, if Xiuyan stayed a month in Grand View Garden, Xifeng would give her the same allowance as Yingchun. Xifeng observed that Xiuyan was not like Lady Xing or her parents, but gentle and lovable. So Xifeng pitied her poverty and fate and cared for her more than the others; Lady Xing did not bother much.

Grandmother Jia and Lady Wang had always liked Li Wan’s virtue and chastity as a young widow, and would not let her widowed aunt stay outside. Aunt Li refused, but Grandmother insisted, so she stayed with Li Wen and Li Qi at Rice Village.

When all were settled, unexpectedly the Marquis of Baoling, Shi Nai, was appointed to a high post in another province and would soon leave with his family. Grandmother could not bear to part with Xiangyun, so she kept her and brought her home. She meant Xifeng to arrange separate quarters. Xiangyun insisted on staying with Baochai, so it was dropped.

Now Grand View Garden was much livelier. With Li Wan at the head, then Yingchun, Tanchun, Xichun, Baochai, Daiyu, Xiangyun, Li Wen, Li Qi, Baoqin, Xing Xiuyan, plus Xifeng and Baoyu—thirteen in all. In age, except Li Wan, the twelve were only fifteen, sixteen, or seventeen. Some were the same year, some the same month and day, some the same hour. They themselves could not sort it out, and called each other brother, sister, elder, younger at random.

Now Xiangling was wholly intent on poetry, but did not dare pester Baochai too much. Just then Xiangyun came. Xiangyun loved to talk. When Xiangling asked her about poetry, she became more excited and talked day and night. Baochai smiled, “I really cannot stand the noise. A girl should not treat poetry as a serious business; learned people would laugh and say she does not keep her place. One Xiangling is not enough, and now you, a bag of talk, are added. What are you saying? Du Fu’s profundity, Wei Yingwu’s elegance, Wen Tingyun’s ornate style, Li Shangyin’s obscurity. You have two living poets here and do not know them; why talk of those dead men?” Xiangyun quickly asked, “Who are the two? Good sister, tell me.” Baochai smiled, “Silly Xiangling’s heart is bitter; mad Xiangyun’s talk is much.” Xiangyun and Xiangling both laughed.

Just then Baoqin came, wearing a cloak glittering with gold and green, of a kind they did not know. Baochai asked, “Where is this from?” Baoqin smiled, “Because it was sleeting, Grandmother found this for me.” Xiangling came to look and said, “No wonder it is so beautiful; it is woven of peacock feathers.” Xiangyun said, “It is not peacock feathers, but the down from a wild duck’s head. Grandmother must love you. She loves Baoyu, but she did not give him one.” Baochai said, “As the saying goes, each has his fate. She never expected to come now, and now that she has, Grandmother loves her so.” Xiangyun said, “Except when you are with Grandmother, you stay in the Garden. In these two places you may play and eat as you like. In Lady Wang’s rooms, if she is there, you may laugh and talk and sit a while. If she is not there, do not go in. There are many people there with bad hearts who want to harm us.” Baochai, Baoqin, Xiangling, Ying’er all laughed. Baochai smiled, “They say you are thoughtless, but you do have thoughts. Still your mouth is too blunt. Our Qin’er is somewhat like you. You always say you want me as your real sister; today I will have you acknowledge her as your real sister.” Xiangyun looked at Baoqin for a while and smiled, “This cloak is fit only for her. If anyone else wore it, it would not suit.” Just then Hupo came and smiled, “Grandmother says, Miss Bao, do not be too strict with Miss Qin. She is still young. Let her do as she likes. If she wants anything, let her ask. Do not be suspicious.” Baochai quickly stood and agreed, then pushed Baoqin and smiled, “Who knows where your good fortune comes from! You go on. Be careful we do not wrong you. I cannot believe I am inferior to you in anything.” As she spoke, Baoyu and Daiyu came in. Baochai was still teasing. Xiangyun smiled, “Baochai, though you speak in jest, there is someone who truly thinks so.” Hupo smiled, “The one who is truly annoyed is no one else but him,” pointing at Baoyu. Baochai and Xiangyun both smiled, “He is not that kind.” Hupo smiled again, “If not him, then her,” pointing at Daiyu. Xiangyun said nothing. Baochai quickly smiled, “Still less her. My sister is the same as her sister. She likes her more than I do and loves her more. How could she be annoyed? You talk nonsense. Her words have no proof.” Baoyu knew Daiyu was somewhat petty, and did not yet know of the recent understanding between Daiyu and Baochai. He feared Grandmother’s love for Baoqin would make Daiyu uneasy. Now hearing Xiangyun and Baochai, and seeing Daiyu’s expression was not as before, he was secretly unhappy. He thought, “Those two were not so close before; now they seem ten times closer than others.” Soon Daiyu kept calling Baoqin “sister” without using her name, just like a real sister. Baoqin was young and warm-hearted, intelligent, and had studied since childhood. After two days in the Jia house, she knew the people roughly. She saw the sisters were not frivolous, and all were close to her sister, so she was not remiss. Among them Daiyu was outstanding, so she was especially close and respectful to Daiyu. Baoyu watched and secretly wondered.

Soon Baochai and her sister went to Aunt Xue’s rooms, Xiangyun to Grandmother, and Daiyu back to her room to rest. Baoyu sought out Daiyu and smiled, “Though I have read The Western Chamber, there were a few lines I understood and quoted in jest, and you were annoyed. Now I think of one line I do not understand. I will recite it and you explain it to me.” Daiyu knew there was something behind it and smiled, “Recite it and let me hear.” Baoyu smiled, “In ‘The Trouble over the Letter’ there is a line: ‘When was it that Meng Guang took Liang Hong’s tray?’ That is wonderful. ‘Meng Guang took Liang Hong’s tray’ is a ready-made allusion, but the three empty words ‘when was it’ make the question interesting. When was it she took it? Tell me.” Daiyu could not help laughing and said, “It is a good question. She asked well, and you ask well.” Baoyu said, “Before, you suspected me. Now you have nothing to say, and I am left alone.” Daiyu smiled, “Who knew she was truly a good person? I always thought she hid malice.” She told Baoyu in detail, from the mistaken drinking-game quotation to the bird’s nest and their talk during her illness. Baoyu then understood and smiled, “No wonder. I was puzzled by ‘when was it Meng Guang took Liang Hong’s tray.’ It was from ‘a child’s mouth has no guard’ that the tray was taken.” Daiyu then spoke of Baoqin and, remembering she had no sisters, wept again. Baoyu quickly comforted her, “You are seeking trouble again. Look, you are thinner than last year, and you still do not take care. Every day, if nothing is wrong, you must seek trouble and cry a while before the day is done.” Daiyu wiped her tears and said, “Lately I feel bitter at heart, but my tears seem fewer than last year. My heart aches, but there are not many tears.” Baoyu said, “That is because you are used to crying and suspect it. How could tears grow fewer?”

Just then a little maid from her room brought a crimson felt cloak and said, “Mrs. Li just sent word that since it has snowed, she wants to discuss inviting people to write poetry tomorrow.” Before she finished, Li Wan’s maid came to invite Daiyu. Baoyu invited Daiyu to go with him to Rice Village. Daiyu changed into red sheepskin boots with gold and cloud patterns, put on a crane cloak of crimson camlet lined with white fox, tied a sash of dark gold and flashing green with double rings and a wish-granting knot, and put on a snow hat. The two walked together in the snow. All the sisters were there, wearing crimson felt and feather satin cloaks. Only Li Wan wore a dark blue broadcloth jacket, and Baochai wore a crane cloak of lotus-blue patterned brocade with added flowers, made of foreign wool. Xing Xiuyan still wore her old everyday clothes and had no snow cloak. Soon Xiangyun came, wearing a long coat Grandmother had given her, faced with sable heads and lined with black-gray squirrel, warm inside and out. On her head was a red felt Zhaojun hood with cloud cut-outs, goose-yellow gold lining, and a large sable collar. Daiyu laughed first, “Look, the Monkey King has come. She has a snow cloak too, but deliberately dresses like a little Tatar.” Xiangyun smiled, “Look at how I am dressed inside.” She took off her coat. She wore a half-new short jacket of autumn-brown with gold and five-colour dragon embroidery, narrow sleeves, and silver squirrel lining; inside was a short water-red satin fox-fur jacket; at her waist a tightly tied five-colour palace sash with butterfly knots and long tassels; on her feet deerskin boots. She looked like a wasp-waisted, ape-backed, crane-necked, mantis-shaped figure. Everyone laughed, “She loves to dress like a boy. It makes her prettier than dressing as a girl.” Xiangyun said, “Hurry and discuss poetry! Who is host?” Li Wan said, “My idea. Yesterday was the regular day, and waiting for the next is too long. It happens to snow. Let us all contribute to a club meeting, welcome them, and write poetry. What do you think?” Baoyu said first, “Very good. But it is late today, and if tomorrow clears, it will be dull.” They looked and said, “This snow may not clear. Even if it does, what fell tonight is enough to enjoy.” Li Wan said, “My place is good, but Reed Snow Cottage is better. I have sent someone to heat the kang. We will all sit around the stove and write poetry. Grandmother may not be pleased; besides, it is a small amusement. Just send word to Xifeng. One tael of silver each is enough. Bring it to me.” Pointing to Xiangling, Baoqin, Li Wen, Li Qi, Xiuyan, “These five do not count. Among us, Second Sister is ill and does not count; Fourth Sister has asked leave and does not count. You four send your shares. I will make it up to five or six taels, which is enough.” Baochai and the others agreed. Then they discussed topics and rhymes. Li Wan smiled, “I have decided in my heart. Tomorrow when the time comes, you will know.” After chatting, they went to Grandmother. Nothing more that day.

The next morning Baoyu, thinking of it, had not slept well and got up at dawn. He lifted the bed curtain. Though the doors and windows were still closed, the window was dazzlingly bright. He worried it had cleared and the sun was out. He got up, opened the window, and looked through the glass. It was not sunlight but a night of heavy snow, over a foot deep. The sky was still like tearing cotton and pulling silk. Baoyu was overjoyed. He called the others up, washed, and dressed in an eggplant-coloured broadcloth fox-fur jacket, a small sea-otter eagle-wing jacket, tied his waist, put on a jade-needle straw cloak, a gold rattan hat, and sandalwood clogs, and hurried to Reed Snow Cottage. Outside his gate, he looked around. There was no other colour; far off were green pines and emerald bamboo, and he felt as if he were in a glass box. He went to the foot of the slope and turned the corner. A cold fragrance met his nose. He turned and saw a dozen red plum trees before Green Lattice Nunnery, like rouge, set off by the snow, especially spirited and lovely. He stood and admired them a while before going on. On Wasp Waist Bridge he saw someone coming with an umbrella; it was Li Wan’s messenger sent to invite Xifeng.

Baoyu reached Reed Snow Cottage and saw maids and old women sweeping snow and clearing paths. Reed Snow Cottage was built on a riverbank near the hills and water, several rooms with thatched eaves, earthen walls, hibiscus fence, and bamboo windows. Opening a window, one could fish. Reeds surrounded it. A winding path through the reeds led to the bamboo bridge of Lotus Fragrance Pavilion. The maids and women saw him in straw cloak and hat and laughed, “We were just saying we lacked a fisherman. Now the picture is complete. The young ladies will not come until after breakfast. You are too impatient.” Baoyu had to go back. At Seeping Fragrance Pavilion he saw Tanchun coming from Autumn Studio, wrapped in a crimson felt cloak, wearing a Guanyin hood, leaning on a little maid, with a woman behind holding a blue silk oil umbrella. Baoyu knew she was going to Grandmother, so he stood by the pavilion until she came, and they left the Garden together. Baoqin was in an inner room washing and changing.

Soon all the sisters were gathered. Baoyu complained of hunger and urged them to eat. At last the meal was served. The first dish was steamed lamb with milk. Grandmother said, “This is medicine for us old people, a thing that has not seen the light of day. It is a pity you children cannot eat it. Today there is fresh venison; wait and eat that.” They agreed. But Baoyu could not wait. He poured tea over a bowl of rice and hurriedly ate it with pickled pheasant. Grandmother said, “I know you have something today and will not even eat properly.” She told them to keep venison for him at night. Xifeng said there was more, so it was settled. Xiangyun whispered to Baoyu, “There is fresh venison. Let us ask for a piece and take it into the Garden to cook ourselves. We can play and eat.” Baoyu was only too eager. They asked Xifeng for a piece and had a woman take it into the Garden.

After the meal they went into the Garden to Reed Snow Cottage to hear Li Wan set the topic and rhymes. Only Xiangyun and Baoyu were missing. Daiyu said, “Those two cannot be together. When they are, how many stories they make. They must be plotting over that venison.” Just then Aunt Li came to watch and asked Li Wan, “Why are that jade-wearing boy and that girl with the gold unicorn, so clean and handsome and not lacking food, discussing eating raw meat? They spoke so plausibly. I do not believe meat can be eaten raw.” Everyone laughed, “This is too much! Bring them here.” Daiyu smiled, “This is Xiangyun’s doing. My divination is never wrong.”

Li Wan and the others went out to find them and said, “If you two want to eat raw meat, I will send you to Grandmother to eat. Even if you eat a whole raw deer and get sick, it is not my concern. In such snow and cold, do not make trouble for me.” Baoyu smiled, “Nothing of the sort. We are roasting it.” Li Wan said, “That is better.” The old women brought an iron stove, iron forks, and a wire grill. Li Wan said, “Be careful not to cut your hands. No crying!” She went in with Tanchun.

Xifeng sent Ping’er to say she could not come because she was busy distributing the annual allowances. Xiangyun would not let Ping’er go. Ping’er liked fun too and usually followed Xifeng everywhere. Seeing this was amusing, she took off her bracelets, and the three sat around the stove and roasted three pieces to eat first. Baochai and Daiyu were used to it and not surprised, but Baoqin and Aunt Li thought it strange. Tanchun and Li Wan had already decided the topic and rhymes. Tanchun smiled, “Smell it. The fragrance reaches here. I will go and eat too.” She went to join them. Li Wan followed and said, “The guests are all here. Are you still not eating enough?” Xiangyun ate and said, “When I eat this, I like to drink. Only after wine can I write poetry. Without this venison, I could not write today.” Just then Baoqin, in her wild-duck-down cloak, stood there smiling. Xiangyun smiled, “Silly girl, come and taste.” Baoqin smiled, “It looks dirty.” Baochai said, “Go and taste it. It is good. Your Sister Lin is delicate and cannot digest it, or she would love it too.” Baoqin went and ate a piece. It was indeed good, so she ate too. Soon Xifeng sent a little maid to call Ping’er. Ping’er said, “Miss Shi is holding me. You go first.” The maid left. Soon Xifeng came in a cloak and smiled, “Eating such good things and not telling me!” She joined them. Daiyu smiled, “Where can one find such a band of beggars! Enough, enough. Today Reed Snow Cottage has been robbed and despoiled by Xiangyun. I weep for Reed Snow Cottage!” Xiangyun sneered, “What do you know! A true scholar is naturally elegant. You are all falsely pure and lofty, the most annoying. We now eat raw and rank things and chew loudly, but later we will have brocade hearts and embroidered mouths.” Baochai smiled, “If your poem is not good later, we will dig out that meat and stuff you with snow-pressed reeds to complete the disaster.”

They finished eating and washed. When Ping’er put on her bracelets, one was missing. They searched everywhere but found no trace. Everyone was surprised. Xifeng smiled, “I know where the bracelet went. You go and write poetry. We need not search. Go on ahead. Within three days it will surely appear.” She asked, “What poetry are you writing today? Grandmother says the New Year is near, and in the first month we should make some riddles for fun.” They all laughed, “We forgot. We will hurry and make some good ones for the first month.” They went into the room with the heated kang. Cups, dishes, fruit, and vegetables were laid out, and on the wall were posted the poem topic, rhyme, and form. Baoyu and Xiangyun looked. The topic was “Linked Verses on the Scene, a five-character regulated poem in extended form, using the second rhyme, ‘xiao.’” The order was not yet listed. Li Wan said, “I am not good at poetry. I will only start with three lines. Then whoever gets a line first will link it.” Baochai said, “We should still decide an order.” To know what happened next, listen to the next chapter.