Jiang Yuhan Affectionately Presents a Sweet-Scented Sash; Xue Baochai, Blushing, Puts on the Red Musk Bracelet

Now Lin Daiyu, still upset about Qingwen's refusal to open the gate the night before, had unfairly blamed Baoyu. And the next day being the Flower-Farewell Festival only added to her pent-up frustration, reviving her melancholy over spring's passing. So she had gathered the fallen petals to bury them, and, moved by pity for the flowers and herself, had wept and recited a few lines of verse. Baoyu, overhearing from the hillside, had at first only nodded in sympathy. But when he came to the lines, "Today I bury flowers, and fools mock me; but when I die, who will bury me?" and "Once spring is gone and beauty fades, flowers fall and people die—and neither knows!" he collapsed in anguish on the slope, scattering the blossoms he had gathered in his coat. He thought: even Daiyu's flower-like beauty would one day be lost beyond finding—how could his heart not break? And if Daiyu must eventually vanish, then all others too—Baochai, Xiangling, Xiren—must also vanish. And if even they are gone, where would he himself be? If even his own self was unknowable, then this place, this garden, these flowers and willows—who would claim them then? Such thoughts led from one to another, until he wondered: what manner of senseless thing would one have to be, to escape this net of heaven and earth, this trap of the mortal world, and be free of such sorrow? Truly: Flower shadows hover always near; bird songs ring always in the ear.

Lin Daiyu, still grieving, heard sobbing from the hillside and thought, "Everyone laughs at my foolishness—could there be another fool as well?" Looking up, she saw it was Baoyu. She said, "Tsk! I thought who it was—turns out it's that heartless, short-lived..." She stopped before finishing "short-lived," sighed deeply, and turned to leave.

Baoyu, after his fit of grief, looked up and saw Daiyu had gone. Knowing she had seen him and slipped away, he felt awkward. He brushed off the dirt, stood up, and went down the hill, retracing his path to the Crimson Delight Court. Happening to see Daiyu ahead, he hurried after her, saying, "Wait. I know you won't speak to me, but let me say one thing—then I'll leave you alone." Daiyu, turning and seeing it was Baoyu, would have ignored him, but hearing "one thing, then I'll leave you alone," she sensed some meaning and stopped, saying, "Say your one thing." Baoyu laughed, "What if it's two things—will you listen?" Daiyu turned away again. Baoyu sighed behind her, "If it's come to this, why was it ever otherwise?" Startled, Daiyu stopped and turned, "What do you mean, 'otherwise' and 'this'?" Baoyu sighed, "When you first came, was there anything I didn't do to keep you amused? If you fancied something of mine, you took it; if I heard you liked something I ate, I saved it for you. We ate at the same table, slept in the same bed. If the maids forgot something, I remembered it for you, for fear you'd be angry. I thought: since we grew up together, whether close or distant, we'd stay on good terms all our lives, better than with the others. But now that you're grown, you've cast me aside, taken those outsiders—Cousin Baochai and Cousin Xifeng—to heart, and for three or four days at a time you won't see me or speak to me. And I have no real brothers or sisters—you know the ones I have are only half-brothers. I'm as alone as you are, and I thought you felt the same. But I was wrong—I've wasted my feelings, and I've no one to tell my troubles to!" Tears fell as he spoke.

Hearing this and seeing his distress, Daiyu's resentment largely melted. She too shed tears and bowed her head in silence. Seeing her like this, Baoyu continued, "I know I'm not what I should be, but whatever my faults, I'd never dare wrong you. If I do make a mistake, you might scold me, or beat me—I wouldn't mind. But when you ignore me, I'm lost—I don't know what to do, and if I died, I'd die wronged, and no monk or Taoist could save me—you'd have to explain it all before I could be reborn!"

Daiyu, hearing this, forgot all about the previous night's affair. She said, "If that's so, why did you tell the maids not to open the gate when I came last night?" Baoyu was astonished, "What are you talking about? If I did that, may I die!" Daiyu spat, "Why talk of life and death so early in the morning? If it happened, it happened—if not, not—there's no need to swear." Baoyu said, "I truly didn't see you come. Baochai sat for a while and then left." Daiyu thought a moment and laughed, "I see. One of your maids must have been lazy and answered rudely." Baoyu said, "That must be it. I'll find out who it was when I get back and teach them a lesson." Daiyu said, "You should indeed teach your maids a lesson. Not that I should say it—but it's a small matter that I was slighted. Suppose tomorrow Cousin Baochai or some other cousin came and was treated the same—wouldn't it be a bigger problem?" She smiled. Baoyu gritted his teeth and laughed.

Just then a maid came to call them to eat, so they went to the front. Lady Wang, seeing Daiyu, asked, "Miss Lin, are you feeling better with that Dr. Bao's medicine?" Daiyu said, "About the same. The Dowager still wants me to take Dr. Wang's prescription." Baoyu said, "You don't understand, Aunt—Cousin Lin has an internal complaint, born weak, so she can't stand the least chill. A dose or two of decoction will dispel the cold, but for the root, pills are better." Lady Wang said, "The other day the doctor mentioned a pill name, but I've forgotten it." Baoyu said, "I know those pills—she's probably taking Ginseng Nourishing Pills." Lady Wang said, "No." Baoyu said, "Eight-Treasure Benefiting Mother Pills? Left-Restoring? Right-Restoring? Or perhaps Wheat- and-Rehmannia Pills?" Lady Wang said, "No—I only remember the word 'Diamond' in the name." Baoyu clapped his hands, "I've never heard of 'Diamond Pills.' If there were Diamond Pills, there must be Bodhisattva Powder!" Everyone laughed. Baochai smiled, "It must be Heavenly King Heart-Nourishing Pills." Lady Wang laughed, "That's it—I'm getting muddled." Baoyu said, "You're not muddled—you've been bewildered by all these 'Diamonds' and 'Bodhisattvas.'" Lady Wang laughed, "Nonsense! Are you asking for a beating from your father?" Baoyu laughed, "My father wouldn't beat me for that."

Lady Wang said, "Since there is such a pill, have some bought tomorrow." Baoyu laughed, "Those are useless. Give me three hundred and sixty taels, and I'll make a batch of pills for Cousin Lin that will cure her in no time." Lady Wang said, "Nonsense! What medicine could cost so much?" Baoyu laughed, "It's true—my prescription is different. The ingredients are strange and too many to list. Take first-birth placenta and ginseng in human form—three hundred and sixty taels wouldn't cover them. Turtle-sized fleece-flower, thousand-year-old pine-root fungus, and such—none of that is rare, it's just part of the mix. But the chief ingredient would shock you. Brother Xue begged me for the prescription for a year or two before I gave it to him. Then he spent another two or three years searching, spending over a thousand taels before he made it. Ask Cousin Baochai if you don't believe me." Baochai laughed and waved her hand, "I don't know anything about it. Don't ask me, Aunt." Lady Wang laughed, "Baochai is a good girl—she doesn't lie." Baoyu, hearing this, clapped his hands, "I'm telling the truth, and you say I'm lying!" Glancing back, he saw Daiyu sitting behind Baochai, biting her lip and making faces, teasing him.

Xifeng, who had been in the inner room supervising the table setting, came out and laughed, "Brother Bao's not lying—it's true. Brother Xue came to me himself for pearls, and when I asked why, he said it was for medicine. He complained about the trouble. I asked what medicine, and he said it was Brother Bao's prescription—I didn't have time to listen. He said he could buy pearls, but they had to be ones that had been worn. So he came to me. He said, 'Even if you don't have loose pearls, I can use ones from your hairpins—I'll replace them with better ones later.' So I had to take apart two pearl hairpins for him. He also asked for a three-foot piece of red gauze to grind in a mortar." Xifeng said one thing, Baoyu chanted "Buddha" and said, "The sun is in the room!" After Xifeng finished, Baoyu said, "But that was makeshift. The real prescription calls for pearls and gems from ancient graves—from the burial ornaments of rich families. Who would dig up graves for that? So using worn ones is acceptable." Lady Wang said, "Buddha forbid! Even if there were such things, to rob a grave hundreds of years old—the medicine wouldn't work!"

Baoyu said to Daiyu, "Did you hear that? Do you think Sister Lian would lie too?" Though he faced Daiyu, his eyes flicked toward Baochai. Daiyu pulled Lady Wang's sleeve, "Aunt, listen—Baochai won't cover for him, so he tries to shift it to me." Lady Wang said, "Baoyu is always bullying his younger sister." Baoyu laughed, "You don't understand, Aunt. When Cousin Baochai lived at home, she didn't know about Brother Xue's affairs; now that she's living here, she knows even less. Cousin Lin was mocking me behind my back, thinking I was lying."

Just then a maid from the Dowager's room came to fetch Baoyu and Daiyu for dinner. Daiyu, without calling Baoyu, rose and left with the maid. The maid said to wait for Baoyu, but Daiyu said, "He's not eating—let's go." She went out. Baoyu said, "I'll eat with Aunt today." Lady Wang said, "No—I'm fasting today. Go and eat properly." Baoyu said, "I'll fast too." He told the maid to go, and sat at the table. Lady Wang said to Baochai and the others, "Just eat—leave him be." Baochai laughed, "You should go. Whether you eat or not, walk with Cousin Lin—she's upset." Baoyu said, "Never mind her—she'll be fine in a while."

After the meal, Baoyu, fearing the Dowager would worry and also concerned for Daiyu, hurriedly asked for tea to rinse his mouth. Tanchun and Xichun laughed, "Second Brother, what keeps you so busy all day? Even eating and drinking is so hurried." Baochai laughed, "Let him eat and go see Cousin Lin—why keep him here?" Baoyu drank his tea and left, heading straight to the west courtyard. Passing Xifeng's gate, he saw her leaning on the threshold, picking her teeth with an ear-pick, watching some pages move flowerpots. Seeing Baoyu, she said, "Just in time—come in, come in, write something for me." Baoyu followed her in. Xifeng had paper, brush, and ink brought. "Forty bolts of large red satin, forty bolts of python-pattern satin, one hundred bolts of assorted gauze, four gold neck-rings," she said. Baoyu said, "What is this—not an account, nor a gift list—how should I write it?" Xifeng said, "Just write it—I'll know what it means." Baoyu did so. Xifeng put it away and laughed, "One more thing—I don't know if you'll agree. There's a maid in your room called Xiaohong—I want to take her. I'll find you replacements. Is that all right?" Baoyu said, "There are plenty of maids in my room. If you like someone, just take her—no need to ask me." Xifeng laughed, "Then I'll send for her." Baoyu said, "Take her." He was about to leave, but Xifeng called, "Wait—I have one more thing." Baoyu said, "The Dowager is waiting for me—I'll come back." He went to the Dowager's, where everyone had already eaten. The Dowager asked, "What good food did your mother give you?" Baoyu laughed, "Nothing special—I just ate an extra bowl of rice." He asked, "Where's Cousin Lin?" The Dowager said, "In the inner room."

Baoyu entered and saw a maid blowing on an iron, two maids marking lines on the kang, and Daiyu bent over with scissors, cutting something. He laughed, "What's this? Bending over right after eating—you'll get a headache." Daiyu ignored him and kept cutting. A maid said, "That corner of the silk isn't straight—iron it again." Daiyu tossed down the scissors and said, "Never mind—it'll be fine in a while." Baoyu was puzzled. Baochai and Tanchun came, chatted with the Dowager, and Baochai came in, "What's Cousin Lin doing?" Seeing her cutting, she laughed, "You're getting so clever—now you can cut and sew too." Daiyu laughed, "It's just more lies to fool people." Baochai laughed, "Let me tell you a joke. Just now over that medicine, I said I didn't know, and Brother Bao was offended." Daiyu said, "Never mind him—he'll be fine in a while." Baoyu said to Baochai, "The Dowager wants to play dominoes—go and play." Baochai laughed, "Did I come here just for dominoes?" She left. Daiyu said, "Go—there's a tiger here, might eat you!" She went back to cutting. Baoyu, seeing she wouldn't respond, stayed smiling, "You could go out for a walk before cutting." Daiyu still ignored him. Baoyu asked the maids, "Who told her to cut this?" Daiyu, hearing him ask them, said, "Whoever told me to cut, it's none of your business!" Baoyu was about to reply when someone announced a visitor. He left. Daiyu said to herself, "Buddha be praised! By the time you get back, I'll be dead anyway."

Outside, Beiming said, "Master Feng's house sent an invitation." Baoyu knew it was about the promised feast. He said, "I need clothes," and went to the study. Beiming went to the second gate to wait, met an old woman, and said, "Second Master Bao is in the study waiting for his outing clothes—please take a message." The old woman cursed, "Nonsense! Second Master Bao lives in the garden now—his attendants are there—why come here?" Beiming laughed, "You're right—I'm confused." He went to the east second gate, where pages were playing ball. He explained, and a page ran in, returning with a bundle. Beiming took it to the study, Baoyu changed, ordered a horse, and set off with Beiming, Chu Yao, Shuangrui, and Shuangshou.

They arrived at Feng Ziying's gate. Feng came out to welcome them. Xue Pan was already there, along with young musicians, the actor Jiang Yuhan (who played female roles), and Yun'er, a courtesan from Jinxiang Pavilion. After greetings, they had tea. Baoyu said, "I've been thinking day and night about your 'fortune in misfortune'—I came at once when called." Feng laughed, "You cousins take things too seriously. That was just an excuse to get you here—I was afraid you'd refuse. But you all came at once." They laughed and wine was served. Feng had the young musicians pour wine, then told Yun'er to do the same.

Xue Pan, after three cups, grew bold, took Yun'er's hand, and laughed, "Sing me a new song, and I'll drink a jar." Yun'er took her pipa and sang:

Two sweethearts, both hard to leave,
I think of you and him too.
Both handsome, hard to paint—
Last night we met beneath the trellis:
One stole a kiss, the other caught him red-handed;
Brought before the judge, I had no defence.

She laughed, "Now drink your jar." Xue Pan laughed, "Not worth a jar—sing a better one."

Baoyu laughed, "Listen to me. Drinking like this is dull and leads to drunkenness. Let me drink a big cup first and propose a new game. Whoever disobeys drinks ten big cups and is sent out to pour for everyone." Feng and Jiang agreed. Baoyu drained a large bowl and said, "Now we must each speak of 'sorrow,' 'worry,' 'joy,' and 'happiness'—all in relation to a girl, and explain why. Then drink your cup. The 'face' of the cup requires a new, fashionable song, and the 'bottom' requires an allusion from an ancient poem, a couplet, or the Four Books or Five Classics." Xue Pan stood up, "I can't do that—don't count me in. You're making fun of me!" Yun'er pushed him down, laughing, "What are you afraid of? You drink every day—can't you do what I can? I'll have my turn too. If you get it right, fine; if not, you drink a few cups—you won't die of it. If you break the rule now, you'll have to drink ten big cups and go pour for everyone." The others applauded. Xue Pan had to sit. Baoyu said:

A girl's sorrow: her youth is spent, alone in her bower.
A girl's worry: she repents urging her husband to seek fame.
A girl's joy: at dawn she sees her beauty in the mirror.
A girl's happiness: swinging in thin spring robes.

They all said, "Well said." Xue Pan alone shook his head, "No, that's not good—he should be fined." They asked why. Xue Pan said, "I don't understand a word of it—shouldn't he be fined?" Yun'er pinched him, "Quietly think of your own—if you can't speak, you'll be fined." She took her pipa as Baoyu sang:

Tears of blood fall like endless rain, missing you,
Spring willows and spring flowers bloom unending in the painted tower,
I cannot sleep through wind and rain at dusk by the gauze window,
I cannot forget new sorrows and old,
I cannot swallow jade-like rice and golden delicacies,
In the lotus mirror I see my wasted form.
My brows are locked in a frown I cannot smooth,
The night watches drag on without end.
Ah—just like the green hills that cannot be hidden,
The green waters that flow on without cease.

They all cheered, but Xue Pan said it had no rhythm. Baoyu drank his cup, took a slice of pear, and said, "Rain beats the pear-blossoms, the gate is shut tight." His turn ended.

Next was Feng Ziying:

A girl's sorrow: her husband lies dying.
A girl's worry: the wind blows down her boudoir.
A girl's joy: she bears twins at first birth.
A girl's happiness: secretly digging crickets in the garden.

He drank and sang:

You're a darling, you're a tease,
You're a mischievous little imp—
Even an immortal can't move you.
You don't believe a word I say—
Go ask around, and you'll know if I love you or not.

He drank his cup, said, "A cock's crow at the moonlit inn," and finished. Next was Yun'er:

A girl's sorrow: who will she depend on for life?
Xue Pan sighed, "My child, with your Uncle Xue here, what do you fear?" They all said, "Don't interrupt!" Yun'er continued:
A girl's worry: her mother's beatings never end!
Xue Pan said, "I saw your mother the other day and told her not to beat you." They said, "Ten cups for anyone who speaks again!" Xue Pan slapped his own mouth, "No memory—I won't say a word." Yun'er said:
A girl's joy: her lover can't bear to leave home.
A girl's happiness: she puts down flute and plays the strings.

She sang:

When cardamom blooms in the third month,
A little worm crawls inside.
It burrows half the day and can't get in—
So it swings on the flower.
Dear little heart, if I don't open, how will you get in?

She drank her cup and said, "The peach tree is lush." Her turn ended. Next was Xue Pan.

Xue Pan said, "I'll say it now: A girl's sorrow—" He paused. Feng urged him. Xue Pan, eyes wide, coughed and said, "A girl's sorrow—she marries a cuckold." Everyone laughed. Xue Pan said, "What's so funny? Isn't it true? If a girl marries a man who's cuckolded, wouldn't she be sad?" They laughed, "You're right—say the rest." Xue Pan said, "A girl's worry—" and paused again. "What worry?" they asked. "A big monkey jumps out of her boudoir." They laughed, "That should be fined! That's even worse." As they were pouring wine, Baoyu said, "It rhymes." Xue Pan said, "The judge approves—why are you making trouble?" They stopped. Yun'er laughed, "The last two are even harder—let me say them." Xue Pan said, "Nonsense! I'll do it myself: A girl's joy—she sleeps late on her wedding night." They were surprised, "How did that rhyme?" Xue Pan continued, "A girl's happiness—a big cock thrusts inside." They all turned away, "Disgraceful—sing it!" Xue Pan sang, "A mosquito goes hum hum hum." They were baffled, "What song is that?" Xue Pan sang, "Two flies go buzz buzz buzz." They said, "Enough!" Xue Pan said, "Take it or leave it—this is a new song, the 'Hum-Buzz Tune.' If you don't want to hear it, I'll skip the last part." They said, "Skip it—don't hold up the others."

Then Jiang Yuhan said:

A girl's sorrow: her husband leaves and never comes back.
A girl's worry: no money to buy hair oil.
A girl's joy: twin flames in the lamp-wick bloom.
A girl's happiness: husband sings, wife follows in harmony.

He sang:

How lovely, born with a hundred charms—
A living immortal from the azure sky!
Youth is still young, the match is made,
How perfect!
Ah—the Milky Way is high, the watchman drums,
Trim the silver lamp and enter the quiet bridal curtains.

He drank and laughed, "I'm not good at poetry. Luckily yesterday I saw a couplet and remembered this line—luckily this thing is on the table." He drank, picked up an osmanthus flower, and recited: "The fragrance of flowers tells the warmth of the day."

All followed and completed the game. Xue Pan jumped up, "Oh no! That should be fined! There's no treasure on this table—why are you reciting 'precious'?" Jiang Yuhan was puzzled, "What treasure?" Xue Pan said, "You deny it! Recite it again." Jiang did. Xue Pan said, "Isn't Xiren a treasure? Ask him!" He pointed at Baoyu. Baoyu was embarrassed, "Brother Xue, how much should you be fined?" Xue Pan said, "I should be fined!" He drained a cup. Feng and Jiang didn't understand; Yun'er explained. Jiang Yuhan apologized. They said, "No blame for ignorance."

Soon Baoyu left to relieve himself, and Jiang followed. They stood under the eaves, and Jiang apologized again. Baoyu, charmed by his gentle, handsome looks, held his hand tightly and said, "Come visit me when you're free. I have a question—there's a famous actor in your troupe called Qi Guan—where is he? I've never met him, though his fame is everywhere." Jiang smiled, "That's my stage name." Baoyu was overjoyed, "What luck! You live up to your reputation. What shall we do on this first meeting?" He thought, took out his fan, removed a jade ring pendant from it, and gave it to Jiang. "A small token of today's friendship." Jiang took it, "I don't deserve this—but I have a rare thing, new this morning, to show my affection." He lifted his robe, untied a large red sash from his waist, and gave it to Baoyu. "This sash was tribute from the Queen of the Xixiang Kingdom. In summer it cools the skin and leaves no sweat. The Prince of Beijing gave it to me yesterday—I put it on today. I wouldn't give it to anyone else. Please take yours off and give it to me." Baoyu gladly took it, untied his own pale green sash, and gave it to Jiang. As they tied them on, a shout came, "Caught you!" Xue Pan jumped out, "Leaving the feast to hide here? Let me see what you've got." They said, "Nothing." Xue Pan insisted, but Feng Ziying came and broke it up. They returned to drink until nightfall.

Baoyu returned to the garden, changed, and had tea. Xiren noticed the fan-pendant was missing and asked. Baoyu said, "Lost it on the way." In bed, she saw the blood-red sash around his waist and guessed. "You've found a good sash—give me back mine," she said. Baoyu remembered it was Xiren's and shouldn't have been given away. He regretted it but couldn't say so, and laughed, "I'll get you another." Xiren sighed, "I knew it—you're up to your tricks again. You shouldn't give my things to those people. You never think." She would have said more but feared making him angry, so she slept.

The next morning, Baoyu laughed, "You didn't even notice the theft—look at your sash." Xiren looked down and saw the red sash around her own waist—Baoyu must have changed it in the night. She untied it at once, "I don't want this—take it back." Baoyu coaxed her gently, and she had to keep it on. Later, when he went out, she took it off and threw it in an empty chest, putting on her own.

Baoyu asked if anything happened yesterday. Xiren said, "Second Mistress sent for Xiaohong. She wanted to wait for you, but I thought it was fine and sent her off." Baoyu said, "Good—no need to wait for me." Xiren added, "Yesterday the Imperial Consort sent Eunuch Xia with a hundred and twenty taels for a three-day peace-offering at the Temple of Pure Void, from the first to the third, with plays and offerings. Master Zhen is to lead the gentlemen in burning incense. Also, the Dragon Boat Festival gifts have arrived." She had a maid bring them: two superior palace fans, two strings of red musk beads, two bolts of phoenix-tail gauze, and a mat of lotus silk. Baoyu was delighted, "Are everyone's the same?" Xiren said, "The Dowager has an extra ruyi and a agate pillow; your mother, father, and Aunt Xue have an extra ruyi each. Yours is the same as Miss Baochai's. Miss Lin and the three young ladies only have fans and beads. The two elder mistresses have two bolts of gauze, two of silk, two sachets, and two pill-holders." Baoyu said, "Why is Miss Lin's different from mine, while Cousin Baochai's is the same? There must be a mistake." Xiren said, "Each had a label—no mistake. I brought yours from the Dowager's room. She said you must go in at the fifth watch tomorrow to thank the Consort." Baoyu said, "I'll go." He told Zixiao, "Take these to Miss Lin's and say they're mine—she can keep what she likes." Zixiao returned saying, "Miss Lin said she got hers yesterday—you keep yours."

Baoyu had them put away. Just as he was leaving to pay his respects to the Dowager, Daiyu came toward him. He went up to her, "I asked you to choose—why didn't you?" Daiyu had put aside yesterday's anger and was preoccupied with today's matters. She said, "I don't have the luck for such fine things—unlike Miss Bao with her gold and jade. I'm nothing but a weed!" Hearing her mention "gold and jade," Baoyu was troubled, "If I ever cared about 'gold' or 'jade,' may I be struck by heaven and earth and never be reborn!" Daiyu, seeing he was upset, laughed, "How silly—why swear? What do I care about your gold and jade?" Baoyu said, "My feelings are hard to tell you—you'll understand later. Apart from the Dowager, your father, and your mother, the fourth is you. If there were a fifth, I'd swear too." Daiyu said, "Don't swear—I know you have a 'cousin' in your heart, but when you see an 'elder sister,' you forget her." Baoyu said, "You're too suspicious—I never do that." Daiyu said, "Why did you ask me when Baochai wouldn't cover for you? If it were me, who knows what you'd do?"

Just then Baochai came from the other side; they parted. Baochai saw them but pretended not to, passing by with her head down. She went to Lady Wang's for a while, then to the Dowager's, where Baoyu was. Baochai had always kept her distance from Baoyu because her mother had told Lady Wang and others that "the golden lock was given by a monk, and it can only be matched with one who has jade." And now Yuanchun's gifts gave her and Baoyu the same things—she felt awkward. But Baoyu, preoccupied with Daiyu, hardly noticed. Now he smiled, "Cousin Baochai, let me see your red musk bracelet." She happened to be wearing one on her left wrist. At his request, she began to take it off. Baochai was plump and fair, and the bracelet was not easy to remove. Baoyu, watching her white, smooth arm, felt a surge of admiration, thinking, "If this arm belonged to Cousin Lin, I might touch it—but it's hers." He regretted his ill fortune, then thought of the "gold and jade" matter. Looking at her face—round as a silver basin, eyes like water-chestnuts, lips red without rouge, brows dark without paint—she had a different kind of allure than Daiyu. He was entranced. Baochai, having removed the bracelet, handed it to him—he forgot to take it. She was embarrassed and dropped it, turning to leave. There stood Lin Daiyu, leaning against the threshold, biting her handkerchief and laughing. Baochai said, "You can't stand the wind—why are you standing in the draft?" Daiyu laughed, "I was inside, but I heard a cry from the sky and came out to see—it was a silly goose." Baochai said, "Where? Let me see." Daiyu said, "It flew away as soon as I came out." She flicked her handkerchief at Baoyu's face. Caught off guard, he cried "Ouch!" To know what happens next, read the following chapter.