Old Ancestor Shi Passes Away to the Netherworld; Wang Xifeng, Her Strength Exhausted, Loses the Hearts of the Household

Mother Jia propped herself up and said, “I have been married into your Jia family for over sixty years. From youth to old age, I have had my fill of good fortune. From your master’s generation down, sons and grandsons have all been more or less acceptable. Only Baoyu—I have doted on him so.” At this she looked around. Lady Wang pushed Baoyu to the bedside. Mother Jia reached out from under the quilt and took Baoyu’s hand. “My child, you must make something of yourself!” Baoyu answered, but his heart ached; tears were about to fall, yet he did not dare sob aloud and could only stand there. Mother Jia went on, “If I could see one more great-grandchild, I could go in peace. Where is my Lan’er?” Li Wan also pushed Jia Lan forward. Mother Jia released Baoyu and took Jia Lan’s hand. “You must be filial to your mother. In the future, when you make something of yourself, your mother will have her day of glory. Where is Feng girl?” Xifeng had been standing by Mother Jia and quickly came forward. “I am here.” Mother Jia said, “My child, you are too clever and calculating. In the future, store up more blessings. In my life I never deliberately cultivated virtue; I was only honest and willing to suffer loss. I did not do much fasting and chanting, but a few years ago I had many copies of the Diamond Sutra made to give away. I wonder whether they have all been distributed.” Xifeng answered, “They have not all been given away yet.” Mother Jia said, “They should have been all distributed long ago. Our Elder Master and Zhen’er are out there enjoying themselves. What chills my heart most is Shi girl—why has she not come to see me?” Yuanyang and the others knew the reason but did not dare speak. Mother Jia glanced at Baochai and sighed. Suddenly a red glow rose on her face. Jia Zheng knew this was a last flicker and quickly offered ginseng broth. Mother Jia’s jaw was already set; she closed her eyes and rested a while, then opened them again and looked at everyone in the room. Lady Wang and Baochai came forward to support her gently. Lady Xing, Xifeng, and the others hurried to put on her burial clothes. The old women below had already prepared the bed and spread the bedding. Then Mother Jia’s throat made a faint sound, a smile appeared on her face, and she passed away at the age of eighty-three. The old women at once laid her out according to custom.

Jia Zheng and the others knelt in the outer room, Lady Xing and the others knelt in the inner room, and all wept aloud. The household had long since prepared everything. When the news spread, all the doors from the main gate of the Rongguo House to the inner quarters were opened and pasted with white paper. A tall mourning shed was put up, and a memorial arch was immediately erected before the main gate. Everyone in the household, high and low, changed into mourning clothes. Jia Zheng reported his mourning leave, and the Ministry of Rites memorialized the matter to the Emperor. The Emperor, mindful of the Jia family’s generations of merit and that Mother Jia was the grandmother of Imperial Consort Yuan, granted a thousand taels of silver and ordered officials of the Ministry of Rites to preside over the sacrifices. Servants were sent everywhere to announce the death. Relatives and friends, though they knew the Jia family had declined, saw how much attention the Emperor showed and all came to offer condolences. An auspicious day was chosen for the encoffining, and the coffin was placed in the main hall. Jia She was not at home, so Jia Zheng, as the senior male in the household, took charge. Baoyu, Jia Huan, and Jia Lan were direct grandsons and still young, so they had to keep vigil. Jia Lian, also of the grandson generation, took Jia Rong with him and could direct the servants in various tasks. Although some outside relatives and friends were invited to help, in the inner quarters Lady Xing, Lady Wang, Li Wan, Xifeng, Baochai, and the others all had to weep before the coffin. Lady You could lend a hand, but Jia Zhen was away, and she was lodging in the Rongguo House and had never been forward. Besides, she was not familiar with Rongguo household affairs. Jia Rong’s wife need not even be mentioned. Xichun was young. Though she had grown up in the house, she understood nothing of managing it. So there was no one in the inner quarters to take the lead, and everything depended on Xifeng. Jia Lian took charge outside. The two, one inside and one outside, should have worked well together.

Xifeng had formerly relied on her own ability and thought that now that Old Ancestor was dead, it was her chance to shine. Lady Xing and Lady Wang also remembered how well she had managed Qin Keqing’s funeral years before, so they still put her in charge of the inner household. Xifeng could not refuse and agreed. She thought: These household matters were always mine to manage, and the servants were all under me. The people in Lady Wang’s and Lady You’s quarters were never easy to order, and now those people are gone too. Although there is no longer the old tally for drawing silver, Old Ancestor’s silver is ready at hand. Outside, Jia Lian is in charge. Though I am not well, I think I will not give people cause for complaint. I may even manage it more splendidly than the funeral in the Ningguo House. Having made up her mind, she planned that after the third-day rites, early the next morning she would have Zhou Rui’s wife bring the roster. Xifeng looked through it: there were only twenty-one male servants and nineteen female servants. The rest were maids. All the apartments together had only thirty or so people, not enough to assign all the tasks. Xifeng thought: For Old Ancestor’s funeral, we have far fewer people than the East House had then. She thought of transferring some from the country estates, but even then it would not be enough.

As she was calculating, a young maid came and said, “Sister Yuanyang asks Second Mistress to come over.” Xifeng had to go. She saw Yuanyang weeping like a figure of tears. Yuanyang took her hand and said, “Second Mistress, please sit. I must knock my head to you. Though ordinary courtesy is not observed during mourning, this kowtow I must make.” She was about to kneel. Xifeng quickly held her back. “What is this? If you have something to say, say it plainly.” Yuanyang knelt, and Xifeng helped her up. Yuanyang said, “For Old Ancestor’s funeral, both inside and outside must be managed by Second Master and you. This silver was left by Old Ancestor. She never wasted money in her life. Now for this great matter, I beg you, Second Mistress, to manage it with dignity. Just now I heard the Master speak lofty principles that I did not understand. He also said that for a funeral, inner grief is better than outward display. I did not understand what he meant. I asked Second Mistress Bao, and she said the Master feels a funeral should emphasize true sorrow and need not spend too much merely for outward show. I thought: for a person like Old Ancestor, how could she not be given a proper send-off? I am only a maid and would not dare say much, but Old Ancestor loved you and loved me too. How can we let her go without splendor? I know you can manage great affairs, so I asked you to come and beg you to take charge. I was born to serve Old Ancestor. Now that she is gone, I will follow her. If I see her funeral handled shabbily, how shall I face her in the future?” Xifeng found this strange and said, “Rest assured. It is not hard to make it dignified. Even if the Master advocates frugality, the necessary display cannot be lacking. Even if all this silver is spent on Old Ancestor, it would be only right.” Yuanyang said, “Old Ancestor left word that the remaining property was to be divided among us servants. If you do not have enough silver, Second Mistress, take these things and sell them to make up the difference. Even if the Master objects, I cannot go against Old Ancestor’s dying words. When Old Ancestor gave those instructions, the Master was right there and heard them.” Xifeng said, “You have always been the most understanding. Why are you so anxious now?” Yuanyang said, “It is not that I am anxious. Lady Xing will not take charge, and the Master fears ostentation. If you also follow the Master’s thinking, fearing that since the family has been confiscated a grand funeral will cause more trouble, then Old Ancestor will be wronged. What then? I am only a maid; whether it is good or bad matters little to me. But this concerns the reputation of our Jia house.” Xifeng said, “I understand. Set your heart at rest. I am here!” Yuanyang thanked her again and again and entrusted the matter to her.

When Xifeng came out, she thought to herself: Yuanyang is peculiar. I do not know what she is really after. Still, by rights Old Ancestor’s funeral should indeed be dignified. Ah, never mind her. Let us follow our family’s old rules. She called Wang’er’s wife and sent word asking Jia Lian to come in. Before long Jia Lian came and asked, “What do you want me for? You look after things inside. Everything is decided by Second Master. We do as he instructs.” Xifeng said, “You talk like that too. That is exactly what Yuanyang was just saying.” Jia Lian asked, “What did Yuanyang say?” Xifeng told him about Yuanyang’s visit. Jia Lian said, “Her words do not count. Just now Second Master called me and said that Old Ancestor’s funeral must of course be conducted carefully. But outsiders who know will understand that this was silver Old Ancestor left herself; those who do not know will say we are hiding family property and that the household is still very rich. This silver of Old Ancestor’s, even if not all used, should not be spent carelessly. It should still be used for matters after her death. Though there is ancestral burial land in the south, the tomb has not been built. Old Ancestor’s coffin will eventually be taken south for burial. Part of this silver can be used to build houses beside the ancestral graves, and the rest to buy several plots of sacrificial land. Then whether we return south or not, the poorer members of the clan can live there and burn incense and sweep the graves at the proper seasons. Think about it—that is the proper plan. From what you say, do you mean to spend all the silver?” Xifeng asked, “Has the silver been handed over?” Jia Lian said, “Who has seen any silver! I heard that when Lady Xing heard Second Master’s plan, she strongly urged Lady Wang and Second Master to agree, thinking it a very good idea. What am I to do? For the outside sheds and the funeral procession alone, several hundred taels are needed, and so far no silver has been issued. When I go to ask for it, they all say there is money and tell the outside to advance it and settle afterward. Think about it: those servants who had money have long since sneaked away. When we call the roll, some say they are ill, some say they have gone to the country. The few who cannot leave only want to get something for themselves. Who would advance money to do the work?” Xifeng was stunned for a long time and said, “Then how are we to manage the funeral?”

Just then a maid came to say, “Lady Xing asks Second Mistress: today is already the third day, and things inside are still in confusion. Meals for guests—are we to leave relatives waiting? When the food is brought, this or that is missing. Why is the work so careless?” Xifeng hurried in, shouting at the servants to attend, and barely got breakfast through. Unfortunately many guests came that day, and the servants were listless. After finishing one side, Xifeng remembered she still had to assign duties. She hurried out and told Wang’er’s wife to gather all the serving women and assign each her work. They agreed but stood still. Xifeng said, “What time is it, and you still have not gone to prepare meals for the guests!” They said, “Bringing meals is not hard. Just issue the things from the storeroom, and we can go and manage.” Xifeng said, “Foolish creatures! If the duties are assigned to you, the things will not be withheld.” They had to agree reluctantly. Xifeng meant to go to the upper rooms to ask for the utensils needed. She wanted to consult Lady Xing and Lady Wang, but there were too many guests and it was inconvenient to speak. It was nearly evening, so she went to Yuanyang to ask for a set of Old Ancestor’s household utensils. Yuanyang said, “You still ask me? Did Second Master not pawn them that year and later redeem them?” Xifeng said, “I do not want the gold and silver valuables, only the ordinary set for daily use.” Yuanyang said, “Where did the things used in Lady Xing’s and Lady You’s rooms come from?” Xifeng realized this was true. She turned and left, and could only go to Lady Wang’s quarters to find Yuchuan and Caiyun. Only then did she get a set of utensils. She hurriedly told Caiming to record them and gave them to the servants to keep.

Yuanyang saw Xifeng flustered and could not call her back. She thought: How deft and thorough she used to be! Why is she now hampered at every turn? These two or three days, nothing has been organized at all. Has Old Ancestor’s love for her been in vain? She did not know that Lady Xing, after hearing Jia Zheng’s plan, found it exactly suited her own worry about future poverty and longed to keep the money as a reserve. Besides, Old Ancestor’s funeral should by rights be managed by the senior branch. Jia She was not at home, and Jia Zheng was rigid. Whenever there was a matter, he said, “Ask Lady Xing to decide.” Lady Xing had always known Xifeng to be extravagant and Jia Lian fond of secret tricks, so she held tightly to the money and would not let go. Yuanyang thought the silver had been given to Xifeng to use. Seeing Xifeng in difficulties everywhere, she suspected she was not doing her best and wept and complained before Mother Jia’s coffin. Lady Xing heard the implication in Yuanyang’s words. Instead of acknowledging that she herself was preventing Xifeng from acting freely, she said Xifeng was indeed unwilling to do her best. That evening Lady Wang called Xifeng over and said, “Even if our family has declined, we must preserve our outward dignity. These last two or three days, with people coming and going, I have seen that many guests have not been properly received. No doubt you have not arranged things well. You must take more pains.” Xifeng was stunned. She wanted to explain that there was not enough silver, but the money was controlled outside, and Lady Wang was speaking of poor hospitality. Xifeng did not dare argue and could only remain silent. Lady Xing said from the side, “By rights, this should be the concern of us daughters-in-law, not a grandson’s wife. But since we are not able to oversee it, we entrusted it to you. You cannot simply wash your hands of it.” Xifeng’s face flushed crimson. She was about to reply when the drums and music sounded outside for the burning of evening paper money. Everyone wept together, and she could not speak. Xifeng meant to wait until the weeping was over, but Lady Wang urged her out to arrange things: “We are here. Go quickly and prepare for tomorrow.”

Xifeng did not dare argue further. Holding back her grief, she went out and again called the servants together, instructing them over and over: “Aunties and sisters-in-law, have pity on me! I have been scolded above because you do not work together and make us a laughingstock. Tomorrow everyone must do her best and work a little harder.” The serving women replied, “This is not the first funeral you have managed, Mistress. How would we dare disobey? But this time there are too many restrictions from above. Take arranging meals: some people stay here to eat, some want to go home to eat. You invite this lady, and that lady does not come. All kinds of matters are complicated, and it is hard to satisfy everyone. We only beg you to advise the maids who were with Old Ancestor not to find fault with everything.” Xifeng said, “The hardest to deal with are Old Ancestor’s maids. The people around the other ladies are not easy either. Whom am I to speak to?” They said, “In the past, when you managed the funeral in the Ningguo House, you punished whomever you pleased and were so awe-inspiring that no one dared disobey. Now you cannot even keep these maids in hand?” Xifeng sighed. “That funeral was entrusted to me, but Lady Wang was there and did not interfere much. Now this is our own family’s funeral, and it is a public matter, so everyone can put in a word. Besides, silver outside cannot be moved easily. For example, if something is wanted from the shed, the order goes down and nothing comes for a long time. What can I do?” They said, “Can Second Master not direct things outside?” Xifeng said, “Do not mention him. He too is hampered everywhere. First, the silver is not in his hands. For every item he must ask back and forth, so how can he act smoothly?” They said, “Is Old Ancestor’s silver not in Second Master’s hands?” Xifeng said, “Go ask the stewards and you will know.” They said, “No wonder we hear the male servants outside complaining: such a great funeral, and no profit to be had, only hard work! How can they work in unison?” Xifeng said, “Say no more now. Just attend to the immediate matters. If the higher-ups blame us, I will not spare you.” They said, “If you want us to work, they would not dare complain. But everyone above thinks differently, and we truly cannot satisfy them all.” Xifeng had no other way and could only beg, “Good aunties and sisters-in-law! Help me hold out one more day tomorrow, and after I soothe those maids we will see.” They agreed and dispersed.

Xifeng was full of grievance. The more she thought, the angrier she became. At dawn she had to go out and busy herself again. She wanted to discipline the servants everywhere, but feared Lady Xing would be displeased. She wanted to complain to Lady Wang, but Lady Xing was there stirring up trouble. The maids, seeing that Lady Xing and the others no longer protected Xifeng, bullied her even more. Fortunately Ping’er mediated and explained to everyone: “Second Mistress has long wished to manage things well. It is only that the Master and Lady Xing instructed that no money be spent carelessly outside, so she has no way to arrange everything.” After she said this several times, matters quieted a little. Monks and Daoists were invited to chant sutras, and people came without end to offer sacrifices and hang mourning scrolls, but money was restricted everywhere and no one was willing to exert himself. Everything was done perfunctorily. For days many princesses and ladies of officials came to offer condolences. Xifeng could not go forward to receive them herself and could only rush about below, stopping one and losing another. Now anxious, now pleading in a low voice, she barely saw off one group before another arrived. Not only did Yuanyang think it looked poor, Xifeng herself felt miserable.

Lady Xing, as the senior daughter-in-law, used “grief is the true filial mourning” as her excuse and would not concern herself with anything. Lady Wang simply followed Lady Xing, and the others need not be mentioned. Only Li Wan saw Xifeng’s difficulties, but did not dare speak for her. She sighed privately: As the saying goes, even the finest peony needs green leaves to support it. If the ladies will not sympathize with Xifeng, how can the servants below be willing to work? If Third Girl Tanchun were at home, things would be better. Now only Xifeng and a few people around her are holding on. The servants complain behind her back that they get no money and no face. Jia Zheng is wholly concerned with filial piety and does not understand practical details. For such a great funeral, if more money is not spent, how can it run smoothly? Poor Xifeng has toiled for so many years. Who would have thought that in Old Ancestor’s great affair she might fail and lose face? So Li Wan took the time to call her own people and instruct them: “Do not join others in making things hard for Second Mistress Lian. Do not think that wearing mourning and keeping vigil is all there is. It is only a matter of enduring these few days. When you see everyone is busy, lend a hand. This is public business, and everyone should help.” These serving women, who had always respected Li Wan, replied, “Elder Mistress is right. We would not dare behave so. But from the tone of Sister Yuanyang and the others, it seems they all blame Second Mistress.” Li Wan said, “I have already spoken to Yuanyang. Second Mistress Lian is not unwilling to do her best for Old Ancestor’s funeral; it is only that the silver is not in her hands. Even a clever wife cannot make porridge without rice. Now Yuanyang understands and no longer blames her. But Yuanyang’s manner is not what it was. Strange to say, when Old Ancestor was alive to back her, she never put on airs. Now that Old Ancestor is gone and no one speaks for her, her temper seems to have worsened. I had worried about her before, but luckily the Elder Master is not at home, so she escaped one disaster. Otherwise she too would have had a hard time.”

As she spoke, Jia Lan came over and said, “Mother, rest a while. You have been entertaining guests all day and are tired. These past days I have had no time to read. Today Grandfather told me to go home and rest, and I am glad. I want to read a book or two. I do not want to forget everything by the time mourning is over.” Li Wan said, “Good child, reading is always good. Today rest a little. Read after Old Ancestor’s funeral.” Jia Lan said, “If Mother wants to sleep, I will lie in bed and think over what I have read.” The others heard and all praised him: What a good boy! At such a young age, whenever he has a moment he thinks of studying. Not like Second Master Bao, who is married and still childish. These days he has been kneeling in vigil with the Master, and anyone can see how hard it is for him. He wishes the Master would leave so he can run to Second Mistress and whisper about who knows what, until Second Mistress ignores him. Then he goes to Miss Baoqin, and she deliberately avoids him. Xing Xiuyan does not talk much with him either. But our own Miss Xi and Fourth Girl call him “brother” this and “brother” that and are close to him. From what we see, Second Master Bao has no serious business in his heart except mixing with the young ladies and mistresses. Old Ancestor’s love for him was wasted. He cannot compare with Master Lan at all. Elder Mistress, you need not worry about the future.” Li Wan said, “Even if he is good, he is still young. When he grows up, who knows what state our family will be in. What do you think of Huan’er?” They said, “Second Master Huan is even worse! His eyes are like a monkey’s, looking east and west. Though he is supposed to be mourning, when he sees the young ladies and mistresses come by, he peeps at them from behind the mourning curtain.” Li Wan said, “He is not young anymore. A few days ago I heard a marriage was to be arranged for him, but now it must be postponed. Alas, there is another matter. These people in our household—it is hard to speak clearly. Let us not gossip. The day after tomorrow is the funeral procession. How are the carriages and horses for each household arranged?” They said, “Second Mistress Lian has been so busy these days that she seems beside herself. We have not heard any arrangements from her. Yesterday my man said Second Master Lian put Jia Qiang in charge. Our family does not have enough carriages and horses, and there are not enough drivers either. They will have to borrow from relatives.” Li Wan laughed. “Can carriages be borrowed too?” They said, “You are joking, Mistress. Why can carriages not be borrowed? Only that day all the relatives will need their carriages, so it may be hard to borrow. I expect they will have to hire some.” Li Wan said, “The servants’ carriages can only be hired. The white carriages for the mistresses—must they also be hired?” They said, “Now Lady Xing, the Elder Mistress of the East House, and Young Mistress Rong have no carriages of their own. If they do not hire, where will carriages come from?” Li Wan sighed. “In the past, when we saw other families’ ladies and mistresses riding in hired carriages, we laughed at them. Now it is our turn. Tomorrow tell your men to prepare our carriages and horses early so that we are not crowded at the last moment.” The women agreed and went out. Of this no more for the moment.

Now Shi Xiangyun, because her husband was ill, had come only once since Mother Jia’s death. Counting the days, she could not fail to attend the funeral procession the day after tomorrow. Seeing that her husband had already contracted consumption but was not yet in immediate danger, she came the day before the funeral to keep vigil. She remembered how Mother Jia had always loved her, and then thought of her own bitter fate: she had just married a husband both talented and handsome, gentle in temper, and now he had this incurable disease, and she could only barely drag on. The more Xiangyun thought, the more grief she felt. She wept until midnight. Yuanyang and the others could not persuade her to stop. Baoyu watched and felt deeply grieved, but could not go forward to comfort her. He saw her in plain mourning, with no powder or ornament, and she looked even more beautiful than before her marriage. He glanced at Baoqin and the others, in pale plain clothes, naturally graceful. Baochai in mourning dress had a refinement even greater than when she wore bright colors. Baoyu thought: They say among all the reds and purples, the plum blossom is first. Not only because it blooms early, but because it is white and fragrant, and no other flower can compare. At this moment, if Cousin Lin were also dressed in mourning like this, what grace she would have! At this thought, his heart ached, tears rolled down, and using Mother Jia’s funeral as an excuse, he wept aloud. The others had been urging Xiangyun to stop, and now another person was crying bitterly. Everyone thought Baoyu was grieving because Mother Jia had loved him, and no one knew that the two had their own secret sorrows. This loud weeping made everyone in the room shed tears. It was Aunt Xue, Aunt Li, and the others who finally urged them to stop.

The next day was the night vigil before the funeral. More guests came, and the bustle was greater. Xifeng truly could not hold up that day. She had no other way. She summoned all her strength, shouted until her voice was hoarse, and barely got through half the day. By afternoon there were even more guests and matters were complicated; she could attend to what was before her but not what was behind. Just as she was anxious, a young maid ran up and said, “So Second Mistress is here. No wonder Lady Xing said that with so many guests inside and no one to look after them, Second Mistress has hidden herself here for peace.” When Xifeng heard this, a rush of anger rose to her chest. She swallowed it, tears streamed down, her vision went black, a sweet taste came to her throat, and she spat out a mouthful of fresh blood. She could not stand steady and crouched down. Fortunately Ping’er hurried forward and supported her. Xifeng kept spitting blood. No one knew whether she would live or die. Read the next chapter for the outcome.