Discussing Biographies of Worthy Women, Qiaojie Admires Virtue; Playing with the Mother Pearl, Jia Zheng Contemplates Gathering and Scattering

Baoyu had just come out of Xiaoxiang Lodge when he hurriedly asked Qiuwen, “What does my father want me for?” Qiuwen smiled. “He did not send for you. Sister Xiren told me to come and ask you back. I was afraid you would not come, so I deliberately tricked you.” When Baoyu heard this, his heart, which had been hanging in suspense, finally settled. He said, “If you wanted me to come back, you could have just said so. Why frighten me like that?” With that, he returned to Happy Red Court. Xiren asked, “You were out so long. Where did you go?” Baoyu said, “I was with Cousin Lin. We talked about Aunt Xue and Cousin Bao, and as we sat talking, the time slipped by.” Xiren asked again, “What did you talk about?” Baoyu then told her about his Zen exchange with Daiyu and the Zen words they had matched.

Xiren said, “You two have no sense of measure. Would it not be better to chat about everyday matters and poetry? Why drag in Zen talk? You are not monks who have left home.” Baoyu said, “You do not understand. We have our own Zen workings. Outsiders cannot join in.” Xiren smiled. “You get so absorbed in your Zen that you leave us to sit by and guess in the dark.” Baoyu said, “When I was younger, Cousin Lin was also childish. If I said the wrong thing, she would get angry. Now we are both more steady. Whatever I say, she no longer takes offense. It is only that lately she does not come often, and I must study. When we do meet once in a while, we seem a little distant instead.” Xiren said, “That is as it should be. You are both grown up now. How could you still romp about like children?”

Baoyu nodded. “I know. Let us not speak of this first. Tell me, has anyone from the Old Ancestor’s rooms come with a message?” Xiren said, “No.” Baoyu said, “I suppose the Old Ancestor forgot. Tomorrow is the first day of the eleventh month, is it not? In past years at this time, the Old Ancestor would hold a Gathering to Drive Away the Cold, and everyone would gather to drink and laugh. I have already asked for leave from the school. Now there is no word. Should I go tomorrow or not? If I go, my leave was for nothing. If I do not go, and my father hears of it, he will say I am lazy again.” Xiren said, “If you ask me, you should still go to school. You have just begun to make progress in your studies, and already you think of resting. Master Lan studies most diligently. Even after school he goes home and keeps writing essays, often until the fourth watch. You are older than he is, and you are his uncle. If you cannot compare with him, it will displease the Old Ancestor again. Better to go to school tomorrow as usual.”

Sheyue cut in, “The weather is so cold. Since you have already asked for leave, if you then rush off to school, the people there will say that if you meant to go, you should not have asked for leave in the first place. It will look as if you lied to be lazy. I say simply rest for the day. Even if the Old Ancestor has forgotten the Gathering to Drive Away the Cold, can we not make a little merry in our own courtyard?” Xiren said, “It is always you who leads him on. Now the Second Master wants to go to school even less.” Sheyue smiled. “I only want to enjoy the moment. I am not like you, set on a good reputation and another two taels of monthly allowance!” Xiren spat at her. “Little hussy, we are speaking seriously, and you talk nonsense again.” Sheyue said, “I am not talking nonsense. I am thinking of you. When the Second Master goes to school, you sit moping and longing for him to come back early so you can laugh and talk together. Now you pretend to be cold and distant. Why? I see it all.”

Xiren was just about to scold Sheyue when someone came from the Old Ancestor’s rooms with a message: “The Old Ancestor instructs that the Second Master need not go to school tomorrow. Tomorrow Aunt Xue is invited over to amuse her, and all the young ladies are to be fetched—Miss Shi, Miss Xing, and Miss Li—to attend the Gathering to Drive Away the Cold.” Before Baoyu had heard the whole message, he was delighted. “I knew it. The Old Ancestor loves me best. It is settled that I need not go to school tomorrow.” Xiren said no more. The maid went back to report. Baoyu had studied seriously for several days and was longing for a day of play. When he heard Aunt Xue would come, he thought Baochai would naturally come too, and he was happy at heart. He said, “Let us go to bed quickly. We must rise early tomorrow.” The night passed without incident.

The next morning Baoyu first went to Grandmother Jia’s rooms to pay his respects, then to Jia Zheng and Lady Wang. He reported that the Old Ancestor would not let him go to school. Jia Zheng said little. Baoyu withdrew and darted off to Grandmother Jia’s rooms. At that time the others had not yet come. Only Xifeng’s nurse had brought Qiaojie and several little maids to pay their respects to Grandmother Jia. The nurse said, “My mistress told me to bring the young lady over first to keep the Old Ancestor company. She will follow shortly.” Grandmother Jia smiled. “Good child. I rose early and waited a long time with no one here except your Second Uncle.” The nurse told Qiaojie to greet Baoyu. Baoyu also asked, “How are you, little one?”

Qiaojie said, “Last night I heard my mother say she wanted to ask Second Uncle over to talk.” Baoyu asked, “To talk about what?” Qiaojie said, “Mother said I have been learning characters with Nurse Li for several years, but she does not know whether I really know them. I said I did. I read to her, but she said I was only guessing and did not believe me. She said all I do every day is play, so how could I know characters? I think those characters are not hard. Even the Classic of Filial Piety for Women is easy to read. Mother said I was fooling her. She wants Second Uncle to help test and explain them to me when he has time.” Grandmother Jia smiled. “Your mother cannot read, so she suspects you are fooling her. Tomorrow have Second Uncle explain it to you once, and she will believe it.”

Baoyu asked, “How many characters do you know?” Qiaojie answered, “I know more than three thousand characters. I have finished the Classic of Filial Piety for Women, and half a month ago I began the Biographies of Exemplary Women.” Baoyu said, “Do you understand the meaning when you read? If not, I will explain it to you.” Grandmother Jia said, “As her uncle, you should explain it to your niece.”

Baoyu began: “The virtue of King Wen’s queen and consorts need not be spoken of. Queen Jiang removed her hairpin and pleaded guilty. Wu Yan of Qi was ugly in appearance, yet she could aid her ruler and bring peace to the state. These are among the worthy queens and consorts. Among talented women there were Ban Zhao, Ban Jieyu, Cai Wenji, and Xie Daoyun. Among those who endured poverty and kept frugality, there were Meng Guang, who wore a wooden hairpin and plain cloth; Bao Xuan’s wife, who drew water herself; Tao Kan’s mother, who cut off her hair to entertain a guest; and Ouyang Xiu’s mother, who drew characters in the reeds to teach her son.
Among women of bitter fate, there were Princess Lechang, whose broken mirror was made whole again, and Su Hui, who wove a palindrome to move her husband. Among the filial, there were Mulan, who took her father’s place in the army, and Cao E, who threw herself into the river to seek her father’s body. There was Lady Cao of Wei, who cut off her nose with a knife to preserve her chastity. There are many stories of chastity; they can be told slowly.
As for women famous for beauty, there were Wang Zhaojun, Xi Shi, Fan Su, Xiaoman, and Jiangxian. As for those jealous by nature, there was one who shaved her concubine’s head, and another who wrote an essay to resent the Goddess of the Luo. Zhuo Wenjun and Hong Fu were women who—”

Grandmother Jia stopped him. “Enough. Do not say too much. A child cannot remember so many.” Qiaojie said, “Some of what Second Uncle told me I have read, and some I have not. The ones I have read, after your explanation, I understand even better.” Baoyu said, “Since you know the characters, there is no need to test you further. Tomorrow I must go to school again.” Qiaojie also said, “Yesterday I heard Mother say that Xiaohong of Happy Red Court was originally in Second Uncle’s rooms, and Mother asked for her. Now there is a vacancy to fill. Mother plans to let Wu’er of the Liu family fill it. She does not know whether Second Uncle is willing.”

When Baoyu heard this, he was overjoyed. He smiled and said, “Whatever your mother arranges is fine. Whomever she wants to fill the place, let her fill it. Why ask me?” Then he turned to Grandmother Jia and smiled. “I think Qiaojie is pretty and clever. In the future she may be even more capable than Sister Feng, and she knows more characters than her mother.” Grandmother Jia said, “It is good for a girl to know characters, but needlework is the essential skill.” Qiaojie said, “I learn from Nurse Liu. Embroidery and knotting—though I do not do them well, I can sew a few stitches.” Grandmother Jia said, “In a family like ours, you need not do such work with your own hands, but you must understand a little of it. In the future you will not be cheated or bullied.” Qiaojie agreed. She still wanted Baoyu to go on explaining the Biographies of Exemplary Women, but seeing him sit staring blankly, she did not dare speak again.

Why was Baoyu staring? He had thought of Liu Wu’er. At first Wu’er had wanted to enter Happy Red Court, but illness had kept her out. Later, when Lady Wang drove Qingwen away, no maid of any beauty dared be chosen again. Afterward, when Baoyu went to Wu Gui’s house to visit Qingwen, Wu’er had come with her mother to bring things, and Baoyu had seen her. He remembered only that she was delicate and pretty. Now Xifeng meant to have Wu’er fill Xiaohong’s place. It was a joy beyond expectation, and so he sat lost in thought.

Grandmother Jia waited a long time and the others still had not come, so she sent maids to invite them again. Before long Li Wan came with her cousins, Tanchun, Xichun, Shi Xiangyun, and Daiyu. They each paid their respects to Grandmother Jia and greeted one another. Only Aunt Xue had not yet arrived, and Grandmother Jia sent someone again. Soon Aunt Xue came with Baoqin. Baoyu paid his respects and asked after them, but Baochai and Xing Xiuyan were not there. Daiyu asked, “Why has Cousin Bao not come?” Aunt Xue made the excuse that Baochai was unwell. Xing Xiuyan, knowing Aunt Xue would be there, had avoided coming. When Baoyu saw Baochai had not come, he wondered at heart, but with Daiyu beside him, he put the matter aside for the time being.

Before long Lady Xing and Lady Wang also came. When Xifeng heard her mothers-in-law had arrived, she did not want to be late. She sent Ping’er first to ask leave, saying she was just about to come but had suddenly developed a fever and would arrive shortly. Grandmother Jia said, “Since she is unwell, she need not come. It is time for us to eat.” The maids moved the brazier back and set two tables side by side before Grandmother Jia’s couch. Everyone sat in order. After eating, they still gathered around the fire to chat. We need not describe it in detail.

Now why was Xifeng so late? At first she feared arriving later than Lady Xing and Lady Wang and was uneasy. Then Wang’er’s wife came to report: “Someone from Miss Yingchun’s side has come to beg the mistress. That person did not go up to report first, but came straight to you.” Xifeng was puzzled and called the person in to question her.

The person said, “It was not the young mistress who sent me. It was Siqi’s mother who begged me to come and beg you, mistress.” Xifeng said, “Siqi was driven out long ago. Why does she still come to beg me?” The person then told the whole story:

After Siqi was driven home, she wept all day. One day her cousin came. When Siqi’s mother saw him, she ground her teeth in hatred. She said it was all his fault that Siqi had been ruined, and she rushed at him to beat him. The young man did not dare speak. Siqi heard and hurried out. Summoning her courage, she said to her mother, “I was driven out because of him. I hate him for having no conscience. Now he has come. If you want to beat him, you may as well strangle me first.” Her mother cursed her for being shameless. Siqi said, “A woman marries only one man. I was foolish once, but I have already given myself to him. I am his, and I will never marry another. I only hate that he was timid and ran away. Even if he never came back, I would never marry. If you force me to marry someone else, I would rather die. Today he has come. Ask him what is in his heart. If he has not changed, I will kowtow to you and count myself dead to you. Wherever he goes, I will follow, even if we must beg.”

Her mother flew into a rage and wept and cursed. “You are my daughter, and I will not give you to him. See what you can do!” Siqi was fierce by nature. She dashed her head against the wall. Her head broke, blood poured out, and she died on the spot. Her mother wept and cried, but could not revive her. She wanted to make the cousin pay with his life.

But Siqi’s cousin said, “Do not be anxious. I have made money outside. I came back because of her. My heart is true. If you do not believe me, look.” He took a box of gold and pearl ornaments from his bosom. When Siqi’s mother saw the gold and silver, her heart softened. She asked, “If you meant well, why did you not say so earlier?” The cousin said, “People say women are fickle. If I had said early that I had money, others would think she wanted me for my wealth. Now she was willing to follow me, not for money. That is truly rare. Keep these gold and pearls. I will buy a coffin and bury her.” Siqi’s mother took the ornaments and, forgetting her daughter’s terrible death, let him arrange matters.

Who would have thought the cousin had two coffins brought. Siqi’s mother was astonished. “Why two coffins?” The cousin smiled. “One is not enough. Two are needed.” Siqi’s mother thought he was grief-stricken and confused. But after he laid out Siqi’s body, he did not weep or grieve. When no one was watching, he took out a small knife he carried, cut his own throat, and died. Only then did Siqi’s mother regret it and weep without end. Now the constables in the neighborhood know of the matter and want to report it to the authorities. Siqi’s mother is frantic and begged me to come and ask you to speak for them. She will come herself later to kowtow.

When Xifeng heard this, she was greatly amazed. “Where could there be such a fierce, foolish girl, and she had to meet this infatuated, foolish boy! No wonder when her private things were discovered, she looked so calm. She was a girl of such steel. I have no time for idle matters, but it is truly pitiful to hear. Very well, go back and tell her that I will discuss it with the Second Master and have Wang’er help settle it with the officials.” She sent the person away, and only then did Xifeng set out for Grandmother Jia’s rooms.

Meanwhile, Jia Zheng that day was playing weiqi with Zhan Guang. The game was near its end, with only one corner still undecided, and they were in a ko fight. A page at the gate came in and reported, “Master Feng is here to see you.” Jia Zheng said, “Ask him in.” Feng Ziying entered the study, saw the two playing, and said, “You two go on. I will watch.” Zhan Guang smiled. “My game is not worth watching.” Feng Ziying said, “You are too modest. Please continue.”

Jia Zheng asked, “What have you come for today?” Feng Ziying said, “Nothing important. I only came to visit. Let Uncle go on with the game. I will learn something.” Jia Zheng said to Zhan Guang, “Master Feng is a good friend. Since he has no urgent business, let us finish this game and then talk. Master Feng can watch.” Feng Ziying asked, “Is there a wager on the game?” Zhan Guang said, “There is.” Feng Ziying said, “Since there is a wager, I should not interrupt.” Jia Zheng smiled. “You may speak freely. He has already lost more than ten taels of silver, and he never can produce it. In the end he is fined to host a meal.” Zhan Guang laughed. “That will do.” Feng Ziying asked, “Are you and Mr. Zhan playing?” Jia Zheng smiled. “In the past we played even, and he lost. Now I give him two stones, and he still loses. He often takes back moves, and if I do not let him, he gets angry.” Zhan Guang protested. They joked as they finished the game. When they counted, Zhan Guang had lost seven stones. Feng Ziying said, “This game turned on the ko. Uncle had fewer ko threats and so had the advantage.”

Jia Zheng then put down the game. “Forgive me for slighting you. Now let us talk.” Feng Ziying said, “I have not seen Uncle for a long time. I came first to visit, and second because a subprefect from Guangxi has come to the capital for presentation at court. He brought four kinds of fine foreign goods, equal to tribute items. One is a twenty-four-panel red sandalwood carved screen, with soapstone panels carved with landscapes, towers, flowers, birds, and figures. It is called Spring Dawn in the Han Palace. On each panel are fifty or sixty palace ladies, with brows, eyes, clothes, and patterns carved most finely. It would be perfect for the main hall of Prospect Garden. There is also a chiming clock more than three feet high, with a little boy holding a time tablet. At the hour it strikes, and inside little figures play ten-part music. Those two are bulky and I did not bring them. Today I brought two smaller pieces. Take a look.”

He took out a brocade box, wrapped layer upon layer in white silk. Inside was a glass case with a gold mount and a crimson silk bottom. In it was a pearl the size of a longan, dazzling to the eye. Feng Ziying said, “This is called the Mother Pearl.” He had someone bring a black lacquer tea tray. Then he took out a white silk package and poured a pile of small pearls onto the tray. He placed the mother pearl in the center. The small pearls rolled and gathered around the large pearl. In a moment they all clung to the mother pearl and lifted it up, leaving not one small pearl on the tray. Zhan Guang marveled. “Truly strange.” Jia Zheng said, “Such things have existed since ancient times. That is why it is called the mother of pearls.”

Feng Ziying then had a page bring a rosewood box. He opened it. Inside was a lining of tiger-patterned brocade, and within lay a bundle of blue gauze. Zhan Guang asked, “What is this?” Feng Ziying said, “A mermaid-silk curtain.” He took it out. Folded, it was less than five inches long and half an inch thick. Layer by layer they unfolded it. After more than ten layers, the table could no longer hold it. Feng Ziying said there were still two more folds, and it would take a tall, broad hall to open it fully. It was woven of mermaid silk. Hung in a room in summer, it kept out mosquitoes and flies, and was both light and transparent. Jia Zheng said, “There is no need to open it all. It will be troublesome to fold again.” Zhan Guang and Feng Ziying folded it together.

Feng Ziying said, “The four pieces together are twenty thousand taels of silver. The mother pearl is ten thousand. The mermaid-silk curtain is five thousand. The screen and the chiming clock together are five thousand.” Jia Zheng said, “How could we afford them?” Feng Ziying said, “Your household is related to the imperial family. Does the palace not need such tribute items?” Jia Zheng said, “The palace could use them, but we do not have so much silver. I will have someone take them in to show the Old Ancestor.”

Jia Zheng then told Jia Lian to take the two pieces to Grandmother Jia’s rooms and to invite Lady Xing, Lady Wang, and Xifeng to come and view them. The mother pearl was demonstrated on the spot. Jia Lian said, “There are still two more pieces, the screen and the musical clock. Altogether they want twenty thousand taels of silver.” Xifeng spoke up: “The things are certainly excellent, but we have no spare money. We are not provincial governors or viceroys who must prepare tribute. I have thought about it for a long time. A great family like ours ought to establish lasting foundations: sacrificial fields, charitable estates, burial grounds. Then if the descendants fall on hard times, they will still have something to rely on and will not collapse completely. I do not know what the Old Ancestor, the master, and the mistress think. If the masters outside wish to buy them, that is another matter.” Grandmother Jia and the others all thought her words reasonable.

Jia Lian said, “First return them to Feng Ziying. They were only brought for the Old Ancestor to look at and perhaps select for tribute. Who said we were going to buy them for ourselves? Before the Old Ancestor has spoken, you pour out a pile of dismal talk!” So the things were taken out and Jia Zheng was told that the Old Ancestor did not intend to buy them. Jia Lian also said to Feng Ziying, “The things are good, but we cannot produce the silver. I will keep an eye out for you. If someone wants to buy them, I will send you word.” Feng Ziying had no choice but to put the things away. He chatted a little, but had little interest, and prepared to take his leave. Jia Zheng urged him to stay for dinner. Feng Ziying declined.

Just then a servant reported, “The Eldest Master has come.” Jia She entered, and they greeted one another. Soon a banquet was set out, with abundant dishes. After several rounds of wine, the talk turned again to foreign goods. Feng Ziying said, “Such precious foreign goods are hard to sell. Only a great house like yours could possibly buy them. Other families could hardly do so.” Jia Zheng said, “Not necessarily.” Jia She said, “Our family is no longer what it was. We only keep up appearances.”

Feng Ziying asked, “Is Master Zhen of the East Mansion well? A few days ago I saw him and we spoke of family matters. He said his second wife is far inferior to Madam Qin. Whose family is the new wife from?” Jia Zheng said, “Also a great family. She is the daughter of the former Hu of the Capital Circuit.” Feng Ziying said, “I know Governor Hu. His family discipline is not strict, but I hope the girl’s character is good.”

Jia Lian put in, “I hear from people in the Grand Secretariat that Jia Yucun is to be promoted again.” Jia Zheng said, “I have heard so too, but I do not know whether it will come about.” Jia Lian said, “Probably eight or nine parts certain.” Feng Ziying said, “I came today from the Ministry of Personnel and heard the same. Is Yucun of your clan?” Jia Zheng said, “He is of our clan.” Feng Ziying asked, “A close branch or a distant one?”

Jia Zheng then told the story of Jia Yucun’s origins: “His ancestral home was Huzhou in Zhejiang. He drifted to Suzhou and was poor in his early years. Zhen Shiyin helped him. Later he passed the imperial examination, became a magistrate, and married a maid of the Zhen family. His present wife is not his first. Later the Zhen family declined, and their whereabouts are unknown. When Yucun was dismissed from office, our two families did not yet know each other. At that time my brother-in-law Lin Ruhai was salt commissioner in Yangzhou and invited him to be a tutor to my niece Daiyu. Yucun wanted to come to the capital to restore his office, and Daiyu was also coming to the capital to take refuge in the Jia household. Lin Ruhai asked him to escort Daiyu and wrote a letter of recommendation, asking me to help him. At the time I thought his abilities were passable, and we often associated. But Yucun is extremely good at currying favor and finding openings. He knows the genealogies, houses, people, and family affairs of our Ning and Rong branches thoroughly, so he seems especially close to us.”

Jia Zheng smiled again. “In these years he has been very skillful at advancement. From prefect he rose to censor, and in a few years became vice minister of the Ministry of Personnel, acting minister of war. Later he was demoted three grades for some matter, and now he is to be promoted again.” Feng Ziying sighed. “The rise and fall of human life and the gains and losses of official career are truly hard to predict.” Jia Zheng said, “Yucun counts as lucky. There is also the Zhen family, whose rank and hereditary title were equal to ours. We often visited. A few years ago they sent people to the capital to pay respects, and it was very lively. Later their ancestral property was confiscated, and to this day there is no news of them. I do not know whether they live or die, and I often think of them. Seeing such things, how can an official not be frightened?” Jia She said, “Our family will not come to harm.” Feng Ziying said, “Indeed. Your household has the Imperial Concubine to support it, and many old friends and relatives. Moreover, from the Old Ancestor down to the younger generation, there is no one mean or cruel.” Jia Zheng sighed. “The people may not be bad, but they lack virtue and learning. They rely on the ancestors’ stipends to get by. They truly cannot bear the burden of this family estate.” Jia She said, “Let us not talk of such dismal things. Drink.” They drank a few more cups and then rice was served.

After the meal, over tea, Feng Ziying’s page whispered something to him, and Feng Ziying prepared to take his leave. Jia She and Jia Zheng asked what the matter was. The page said, “It is snowing outside, and the watch drum has already sounded.” Someone was sent to look. The snow was more than an inch deep. Jia Zheng asked, “Are those two pieces properly packed?” Feng Ziying said, “They are packed. If your household wishes to buy them, the price can still be discussed.” Jia Zheng said, “I will keep an eye out for you.” Feng Ziying said, “I will wait for word. It is cold. There is no need to see me out.” Jia She and Jia Zheng told Jia Lian to see him out. What happened afterward will be told in the next chapter.