For Fear of the Vase, Baoyu Conceals the Stolen Goods; Judging a Wrong, Ping’er Exerts Authority

Liu’s wife said with a smile, “You little monkey! Your own auntie has gone off to find a wild man, so you’ve gained an uncle. What’s there to be suspicious about? Don’t make me pull out those few cunt hairs on your head! Open the gate and let me in.” The page would not open the gate. He caught hold of her and said with a smile, “Good auntie, when you go in, you might as well steal some apricots for me. I’ll be waiting here. If you forget, then later, when you want the gate opened at midnight to buy wine or oil, I won’t open it for you, nor answer you. You can shout yourself hoarse.” Liu spat. “You’re crazy. This year is not like other years. All these things have been divided among the old women. Each one is like a face scratched raw. If anyone so much as passes under a tree, their eyes are like a hawk’s. Who dares touch their fruit? Yesterday I was walking under the plum tree, and a bee happened to fly past my face. I waved my hand, and your dear auntie saw me. She was too far away to see clearly and thought I was picking plums. She started yelling at the top of her lungs, saying, ‘They haven’t been offered to Buddha yet!’ and ‘The old lady and Lady Wang are not at home, and the first fruits haven’t been presented. When they’ve been sent up, you sisters will all have your share.’ As if anyone were dying of greed, waiting for plums to ripen! I had nothing good to say, so I gave her a sharp retort. But your aunt and two or three other relatives are in charge. Why not ask them? Why come to me? That’s like ‘the barn mouse borrowing grain from the crow—those who have it won’t give, those who fly have it.’” The page laughed. “Oh, if there’s none, there’s none. Why go on like that? Do you think you won’t need me in the future? Even if your sister gets a good place, there will be more calls on her later. As long as we answer her more often, it will be fine.” Liu laughed. “You little monkey, always up to tricks and lies. What good place has your sister got?” The page laughed. “Don’t fool me. I already know. You have someone pulling strings inside—do you think we don’t? I may be out here listening, but I have two sisters inside who have some standing. What can be hidden from us?”

Just then an old woman inside called out, “Little monkeys, go tell your Aunt Liu to come. If she delays any longer, it will be too late.” Hearing this, Liu’s wife paid no more attention to the page. She pushed the gate open and went in, saying with a smile, “No need to hurry. I’m here.” She went to the kitchen. Although there were several others there, none dared act on their own; they all waited for her to arrange and assign the dishes. She asked, “Where has Fifth Girl gone?” They all said, “She just went to the tea room to find her sisters.”

Liu’s wife put away the poria frost and began assigning dishes by quarters. Suddenly Lianhua, a little maid from Yingchun’s rooms, came and said, “Sister Siqi says she wants a bowl of eggs, steamed very soft.” Liu’s wife said, “So grand! I don’t know why, but eggs are very scarce this year. You can’t find one for ten cash. Yesterday when the higher-ups sent congee and rice to relatives, four or five buyers went out and barely scraped together two thousand. Where am I to find any? Tell her to have them another day.” Lianhua said, “The other day she wanted bean curd, and you gave her some that was spoiled. She scolded me for it. Today she wants eggs, and again there are none. What fine thing is an egg? I don’t believe there isn’t one. Don’t make me search.” As she spoke, she really came over, lifted the vegetable box, and saw ten or so eggs inside. “Isn’t this them? You are so fierce! What we eat belongs to the masters, and our portions are ours. Why do you begrudge them? You didn’t lay the eggs. Are you afraid people will eat them?” Liu’s wife quickly dropped her work and came over. “Don’t talk nonsense with your mouth full! Your mother’s the one who lays eggs! These few are all kept for garnishing dishes. If the young ladies don’t want them, I still won’t use them—they’re kept for emergencies. If you eat them, and then suddenly something is wanted, there’ll be nothing good, not even an egg. You live in a deep mansion and great courtyard. Water comes when you stretch out your hand, food comes when you open your mouth. You only know eggs are common things. How would you know the market outside? Never mind this—there were days when even grass roots were gone. I advise them: fine rice and white grain, fat chicken and big duck every day—they might as well make do. When they tire of rich food, they start wanting stories every day. Eggs, bean curd, and then gluten, soy-turnip fritters—they want a change of taste. But I am not your servant. If every quarter wants a different thing, that’s ten or more dishes. I might as well not serve the first-class masters, and only prepare for you second-class masters.” Lianhua flushed and shouted, “Who asks you for things every day? You talk two cartloads of words! If you weren’t called here for convenience, then why? The other day Xiaoyan came and said Sister Qingwen wanted wild rice stems. How busy you were, asking whether to stir-fry with meat or chicken! Xiaoyan said, ‘Because meat is not good, she told you to stir-fry gluten with less oil.’ You were so busy you said you were dizzy, then washed your hands and stir-fried it, and carried it over yourself like a dog wagging its tail. Today you use me as a whipping boy and say all this for everyone to hear.” Liu’s wife quickly said, “Amida Buddha! Everyone can see. Never mind the other day—since the kitchen was set up last year, whenever anyone in any quarter, young lady or maid, wanted to add a dish or half a dish, didn’t they always bring money first and buy it separately? Whether there is or isn’t, the reputation sounds good: they say I manage the young ladies’ kitchen alone, saving trouble, and there are leftovers. But when you reckon the accounts, it makes one sick: including young ladies and maids, forty or fifty people, in one day only two chickens, two ducks, ten catties of meat, and one string of cash for vegetables. Count it—what can that do? It can’t even keep up two regular meals, let alone this one ordering this and that one ordering that. What is bought they don’t eat; they buy something else. If that’s how it is, better report to Lady Wang and add more to the allowance. Like the main kitchen preparing Lady Jia’s meals, write every dish under heaven on a water board and rotate them day by day. At the end of the month, reckon it up—that would be better. The other day Third Miss and Miss Bao happened to decide they wanted oil-and-salt stir-fried lycium sprouts, and sent a maid with five hundred cash to me. I laughed and said, ‘Even if you two young ladies were big-bellied Maitreya Buddhas, you couldn’t eat five hundred cash worth. This is a matter of twenty or thirty cash; I can prepare it.’ I tried to return the money, but they would not take it. They said it was for me to buy wine, and also said, ‘Now that the kitchen is inside, the people in the rooms will surely come asking for things. Salt and sauce—aren’t they bought with money? If you don’t give, it’s not good; if you do, you have no way to make it up. Take this money as repayment for all the things they have cadged from you.’ That is an understanding young lady who considers those below her. In my heart I only call on Buddha for her. But then Aunt Zhao heard and was angry and resentful, saying it was too cheap for me. Every ten days or so she sends a little maid to look for this and that. I laugh. You have all made it a rule—if it isn’t one, it’s another. Where do I have so much to make up for?”

Just as things were in confusion, Siqi sent someone to hurry Lianhua, saying, “Are you dead there? Why don’t you come back?” Lianhua returned in a temper and added a great deal to the story for Siqi. Siqi, hearing it, could not help catching fire. At that time she had just finished serving Yingchun her meal. She brought some little maids over. Seeing many people eating and seeing her ill-tempered approach, they all rose hastily with smiles and offered her a seat. Siqi ordered the little maids to start. “Everything in the boxes and cupboards—just throw it out to feed the dogs. If we can’t gain, no one else will.” The little maids, eager for the word, rushed up and began throwing and rummaging wildly. The others tried to pull them back and begged Siqi, saying, “Miss, don’t listen to a child’s talk. Aunt Liu would not dare offend you even if she had eight heads. It is true eggs are hard to buy. We just told her she was foolish; no matter what it is, she must find a way. She has already understood and steamed them at once. If you don’t believe us, look at the fire.” Siqi was gradually soothed by their good words. The little maids had not finished throwing things before they were pulled away. Siqi scolded and cursed for a while, then was persuaded to leave. Liu’s wife could only throw bowls and plates and grumble to herself. She steamed a bowl of eggs and sent someone with it. Siqi poured it all on the ground. The messenger did not dare report it, fearing more trouble.

Liu’s wife gave her daughter some soup and half a bowl of congee, and told her about the poria frost. When Wu’er heard it, she wanted to share some with Fangguan. She wrapped half in paper and, at dusk when few people were about, went looking for Fangguan, hiding among flowers and willows. Luckily no one questioned her. She reached the gate of Happy Red Court but did not dare go in. She stood before a cluster of roses, watching from afar. After about a cup of tea’s time, Xiaoyan happened to come out. Wu’er hurried forward and called her. Xiaoyan did not know who it was. When she came closer and saw clearly, she asked what she wanted. Wu’er smiled. “Call Fangguan out. I want to speak with her.” Xiaoyan smiled quietly. “Sister, you are too impatient. In ten days or so she will be here anyway. Why come looking for her? She was just sent to the front. Wait a little. Or if you have something to say, tell me and I’ll tell her. I fear you can’t wait—the garden gate may be closing.” Wu’er handed the poria frost to Xiaoyan and told her it was poria frost, how to take it, how nourishing it was. “I got some and wanted to give it to her. Please pass it on.” Then she took her leave.

As she was walking near the Liao-Xu area, she suddenly saw Lin Zhixiao’s wife coming toward her with several old women. Wu’er could not hide in time, so she had to come forward and greet her. Lin Zhixiao’s wife asked, “I heard you were ill. Why have you come here?” Wu’er smiled apologetically. “I have been a little better these two days, so I came in with my mother to relieve my boredom. Just now my mother sent me to Happy Red Court to deliver some utensils.” Lin Zhixiao’s wife said, “That doesn’t fit. I saw your mother go out just now, and only then did I close the gate. If your mother sent you, why did she not tell me you were here? She went out and let me close the gate. What was the idea? You must be lying.” Wu’er had no answer and only said, “My mother told me early this morning to fetch them. I forgot and waited until now to remember. I fear my mother thought I had already gone out, so she did not speak to you.” Lin Zhixiao’s wife heard her words falter and her face change. Also, recently Yu Chuan’er had said that things had gone missing in the main rooms, and several maids were accusing one another with no culprit. She grew suspicious. It happened that Xiaochan, Lianhua, and several stewardesses came by. Seeing this, they said, “Mrs. Lin, you should interrogate her. These last two days she has been running in and out in a suspicious, sneaky way. No one knows what she is doing.” Xiaochan added, “Exactly. Yesterday Sister Yu Chuan said the cupboard in Lady Wang’s side room was open and many small things were missing. Second Mistress Lian sent Miss Ping and Sister Yu Chuan to ask for some rose dew, and a whole jar was missing. If they hadn’t gone looking for the dew, no one would have known.” Lianhua smiled. “I didn’t hear that, but today I saw a dew bottle.” Lin Zhixiao’s wife was already worried because these matters had no culprit and Xifeng daily sent Ping’er to press her. Hearing this, she quickly asked where. Lianhua said, “In their kitchen.” Lin Zhixiao’s wife ordered lanterns lit and led everyone to search. Wu’er, frantic, said, “That was given to me by Fangguan in Master Bao’s rooms.” Lin Zhixiao’s wife said, “I don’t care whether it’s Fangguan or Yuanguan. Now there is stolen evidence. I will only report it. You can argue before your masters.” She went into the kitchen. Led by Lianhua, they took out the dew bottle. Fearing other stolen things, they searched carefully again and found a packet of poria frost. They took it all and brought Wu’er to report to Li Wan and Tanchun.

At that time Li Wan was not attending to affairs because Lan’er was ill. She only told them to see Tanchun. Tanchun had returned to her rooms. When they were announced, the maids were all in the courtyard cooling off. Tanchun was washing inside. Only Daishu went in to report. After a long while she came out and said, “The young lady knows. She says you are to find Ping’er and report to the Second Mistress.” Lin Zhixiao’s wife had to lead them out. At Xifeng’s quarters, she first found Ping’er. Ping’er went in and reported to Xifeng. Xifeng had just lain down. Hearing the matter, she ordered, “Give her mother forty strokes and drive her out. She is never to enter the second gate again. Give Wu’er forty strokes and hand her over at once to the farm people, to be sold or married off.” Ping’er came out and gave the order to Lin Zhixiao’s wife. Wu’er was so frightened she wept and knelt before Ping’er, telling her in detail about Fangguan. Ping’er said, “That is not difficult. Tomorrow we will ask Fangguan and know whether it is true. But the poria frost was sent the day before yesterday. We are waiting for Lady Jia and Lady Wang to return and look at it before we dare touch it. It should not have been stolen.” Wu’er, hearing this, quickly told how her uncle had given it. Ping’er smiled. “If that is so, you are entirely innocent, and they are using you as a scapegoat. It is late now, and my mistress has just taken her medicine and lain down. It is not convenient to bother her over such a small matter. For now, hand her over to the night watch to keep for one night. Tomorrow I will report to my mistress and then decide.” Lin Zhixiao’s wife did not dare disobey. She led Wu’er out and handed her to the night stewardesses to watch, then went off.

Wu’er was thus confined. She did not dare take a step. Some stewardesses advised her, saying she should not have done such a shameless thing. Others complained, “We can’t even sit properly at our posts, and now they bring us a thief to watch. If she kills herself or runs away when our backs are turned, it will be our fault.” There were also those who had always been on bad terms with the Liu family. Seeing this, they were delighted and came to mock and jeer at her. Wu’er was angry and wronged, with no one to tell. She was frail and ill to begin with. That night she wanted tea and had none, wanted water and had none, wanted to sleep and had no bedding. She wept and sobbed the whole night.

Those who were on bad terms with mother and daughter wished to have them driven out at once. Fearing a change the next day, they all rose early and quietly came to win over Ping’er. Some brought gifts, some flattered her for being decisive, and some told her many bad things about Wu’er’s mother. Ping’er agreed to everything and sent them away. Then she quietly went to see Xiren and asked whether Fangguan had indeed given her the dew. Xiren said, “The dew was given to Fangguan, but to whom Fangguan passed it on, I do not know.” Xiren then asked Fangguan. Fangguan, hearing it, was frightened out of her wits and hastily admitted she had given it to Wu’er. Fangguan told Baoyu. Baoyu panicked too and said, “The dew is accounted for, but if they bring up the poria frost, she will truthfully say it came from her uncle at the gate. Then her uncle will be in trouble. Would not their good intention be turned into harm by us?” He quickly discussed with Ping’er. “The dew matter is settled, but the frost is also a problem. Good sister, tell her to say it was also given by Fangguan and be done.” Ping’er smiled. “That may be, but last night she already told people it was from her uncle. How can she now say you gave it? Besides, the dew lost over there has no owner either. If we let the one with evidence go free, whom shall we look for next? Who will confess? People will not be convinced.” Qingwen came over and smiled. “There is no one else for the dew in Lady Wang’s quarters. It must have been Caiyun who stole it and gave it to Huan’er. You are all talking nonsense.” Ping’er smiled. “Who doesn’t know that? But now Yu Chuan’er is frantic and crying. If we quietly ask her and she admits it, Yu Chuan’er will let it be, and everyone will let it pass. Do you think we want to take on this business? The hateful thing is that Caiyun not only will not admit it, she pushes it onto Yu Chuan’er, saying she stole it. The two have fired cannons inside, and the whole household knows. How can we pretend nothing happened? We must investigate. But the one who reports the theft is the thief, and there is no evidence. What can we say to her?” Baoyu said, “Very well, I will take this on too. I will say I was teasing them and secretly stole Lady Wang’s things. Both matters will be settled.” Xiren said, “That is a charitable deed, saving someone’s name as a thief. But when Lady Wang hears it, she will say you are childish and know no better.” Ping’er smiled. “That is a small matter. It would be easy to find the stolen goods in Aunt Zhao’s rooms. I only fear it will hurt the reputation of a good person. Never mind anyone else—will not this one be angry? I pity her. I will not break the jade vase to hit a rat.” She held up three fingers. Xiren and the others understood she meant Tanchun. They all said quickly, “That is right. Better that we here take it on.” Ping’er smiled again. “But we must call those two wretches Caiyun and Yu Chuan’er and ask them clearly. Otherwise, they will benefit and not even say it was for this. It will look as if I had no ability to find out and had to ask this quarter to settle it. Then they will steal even more and care even less.” Xiren and the others smiled. “Exactly. You must leave yourself some room.”

Ping’er sent for the two and said, “Don’t be alarmed. The thief has been found.” Yu Chuan’er asked first where the thief was. Ping’er said, “She is in the Second Mistress’s rooms. Ask her anything and she admits it. I know in my heart she did not steal it. I pity her for being frightened and confessing. Master Bao feels bad and wants to take half the blame for her. I was going to speak out, but the thief has always been a good sister of mine, and the receiver is an ordinary person, and it would hurt the reputation of a good person. So I am in a difficult position and must beg Master Bao to admit it, and everyone will be safe. Now I ask you two: what shall we do? If from now on everyone is careful and preserves face, then we will ask Master Bao to admit it. If not, I will report to the Second Mistress and not wrong a good person.” Caiyun, hearing this, blushed. Her sense of shame was stirred, and she said, “Sister, set your mind at ease. Do not wrong a good person, and do not drag in innocents and hurt their face. The theft was because Aunt Zhao begged me again and again. I did take some and give them to Huan’er—that is true. Even when Lady Wang was at home we took things and gave them to people; it was common. I said after a couple of days of noise it would pass. Now that a good person is wronged, I cannot bear it. Sister, take me to the Second Mistress. I will admit everything and settle it.” Everyone was astonished at her courage. Baoyu quickly smiled. “Sister Caiyun is truly a proper person. Now there is no need for you to admit it. I will say I secretly stole them to tease you, and now that trouble has come, I should admit it. I only beg you sisters to be more careful in the future, and all will be well.” Caiyun said, “Why should you admit what I did? I should bear it, live or die.” Ping’er and Xiren quickly said, “That is not the way. If you admit it, Aunt Zhao will be dragged in, and when Third Miss hears, will she not be angry? Better Master Bao admits it, everyone is safe, and no one except these few will know. How clean that is. But from now on, everyone must be very careful. If you want to take anything, wait until Lady Wang comes home. Even if the whole house were given away, we would have no responsibility.” Caiyun lowered her head, thought, and then agreed.

So it was all arranged. Ping’er took the two and Fangguan to the front. In the night-watch room she called Wu’er and quietly told her to say the poria frost was a gift from Fangguan. Wu’er thanked her endlessly. Ping’er brought them to her own quarters. Lin Zhixiao’s wife had already been waiting a long time with several stewardesses, guarding Liu’s wife. Lin Zhixiao’s wife said to Ping’er, “I brought her here early this morning. Fearing no one in the garden would serve the young ladies’ meals, I temporarily assigned Mrs. Qin Xian to serve. Please report to the Second Mistress that she is clean and careful, and from now on she might serve regularly.” Ping’er said, “Who is Mrs. Qin Xian? I am not well acquainted with her.” Lin Zhixiao’s wife said, “She is on night watch at the south corner of the garden. She has nothing to do by day, so you may not know her. She has high cheekbones and big eyes, and is very clean and brisk.” Yu Chuan’er said, “Yes. Sister, how have you forgotten? She is Siqi’s aunt, who serves Second Miss. Siqi’s parents are on Lord She’s side, but this uncle is on our side.” Ping’er then remembered and smiled. “Oh, if you had said it was her, I would have understood.” She smiled again. “You were too quick to assign her. Now this matter has come to light on all sides. Even the things lost in Lady Wang’s rooms the other day have an owner. It was Baoyu who came over that day and asked those two wretches for something. They teased him, saying Lady Wang was not at home and they dared not take anything. So when they were off guard, Baoyu went in himself and took something out. Those two did not know and were frightened. Now Baoyu, hearing others were implicated, told me in detail and showed me the things. Not one is missing. The poria frost was obtained by Baoyu outside. He has given it to many people, not only in the garden. Even the old women begged some to give to relatives, and it was passed on. Xiren also gave some to Fangguan and the like. Their private exchanges are common. The other two baskets are still on the council hall table, sealed and untouched. How can people falsely accuse others? I will report to my mistress.” She went into the bedroom and reported the whole matter to Xifeng as she had said.

Xifeng said, “That may be, but Baoyu likes to take on things without distinguishing right from wrong. If others beg him, he cannot resist a few good words. Put a basket of charcoal on his head, and there is nothing he will not admit. If we believe him, and in the future great matters are like this, how shall we govern anyone? We must investigate carefully. In my opinion, bring all the maids from Lady Wang’s rooms. Though we cannot torture them at will, make them kneel in the sun on broken tiles and give them no food or water. If they do not speak for one day, they kneel one day. Even iron would confess in a day. Also, ‘a fly does not bite a seamless egg.’ Although Liu’s wife did not steal, there is some shadow of suspicion, or people would not accuse her. Even if we do not punish her as a thief, she should be dismissed. The court has cases of being wrongly implicated; she need not be considered wronged.” Ping’er said, “Why take such trouble? ‘When you can let go, let go.’ What great matter is it? Better to do a kindness. I say, even if you worry yourself a hundred percent in these rooms, in the end we belong to the other household. There is no point making petty enemies and causing resentment. Besides, you have had one illness after another. You finally conceived a boy, and at six or seven months you lost it. Who knows if it was not from overwork and anger? Now take the early way—see half and ignore half. That will do.” This speech made Xifeng laugh. “Then let you, you little wretch, deal with it. I have just regained a little strength and have no energy to fuss.” Ping’er smiled. “This is the proper way.” She turned and went out, settling each matter. If you want to know what happened, listen to the next chapter.