Spoiling a Good Affair, Xiangling Conceives Deep Resentment; Grieving Over a Distant Marriage, Baoyu Feels the Pain of Parting

Jia Zheng had gone to pay his respects to the Military Commissioner. He remained inside for a long time, and those outside began to guess what had happened. Li Shi’er, waiting outside, could learn nothing. His mind was still fixed on the matter of Xue Pan’s case in the court gazette, and he was very anxious. When at last Jia Zheng came out, Li Shi’er hurried forward to follow him. Before they had even returned to the yamen, he found a place where no one was around and asked, “The master was inside so long. What important matter was it?”

Jia Zheng smiled. “Nothing very important. The Supreme Commander of Zhenhai is a relative of this Military Commissioner. He wrote to ask him to look after me, so he said many kind things. He also said that our two families may now count as relatives.”

When Li Shi’er heard this, he was delighted and grew even bolder. He urged Jia Zheng with all his might to agree to the marriage. But Jia Zheng was still thinking of Xue Pan’s case. He did not know what was happening in the capital and had no way to manage it, so after returning to his post he sent a servant back to the capital to find out the news and, at the same time, to report the Supreme Commander’s marriage proposal to Grandmother Jia. If the family agreed, Tanchun was to be sent to the place where he held office. The servant hurried to the capital, first reported to Lady Wang, then went to the Ministry of Personnel to inquire. He learned that Jia Zheng had not been punished; only the former acting magistrate of Taiping County had been dismissed. The servant wrote a letter to comfort Jia Zheng and then waited in the capital for a reply.

Now to return to Aunt Xue. For the sake of Xue Pan’s case of manslaughter, she had spent countless sums in every yamen before the case was at last reported to the court as accidental homicide. She had originally planned to sell the pawnshops and raise money to redeem his punishment. But who could have known that the Ministry of Justice would reject the verdict and order a retrial? She entrusted people and spent large sums, all to no avail. In the end the sentence was death, and he was imprisoned to wait for the autumn assizes. Aunt Xue was both angry and heartbroken. She wept day and night without stopping.

Baochai often came to comfort her, saying, “My brother was never blessed with good fortune. He inherited the family estate left by our grandfather and should have lived peacefully. Earlier in the south he already made a great disaster. The business with Xiangling was serious enough. At that time, relying on the influence of relatives and spending money, he escaped, though he had caused the death of another young gentleman for nothing. My brother should have reformed and dutifully cared for you, Mother. But when he came to the capital, he was the same as before. How much anger have you suffered for him, how many tears have you shed? A wife was found for him in the hope that the family might live in peace. But his fate was poor, and the sister-in-law he married is a restless woman, so he was always running out. Truly, as the old saying goes, enemies are fated to meet on a narrow road. Before long he had caused a death. You and Second Master Xue Ke have done all you could. Not only have you spent silver, you have begged people and hurried everywhere. But this was fate, and he brought it on himself. People raise children to have support in old age. Even in an ordinary family, a son should earn money to care for his mother. How could one squander a ready-made estate and make his old mother weep herself half dead? If you ask me, with such conduct, my brother is no son—he is an enemy. Mother, do not torment yourself like this, weeping from morning to night and still suffering your sister-in-law’s temper. I cannot come every day to urge you. Seeing you like this, how can I set my mind at ease? Though my brother is foolish, he would not want me always running here. A few days ago the master sent someone back and was badly frightened by the capital gazette, so he sent someone home to manage things. When my brother got into trouble, many people were worried. Fortunately I am still near. If I were far away and heard this news, I fear I would miss you to death. I beg you, Mother, first take care of your health. While my brother is still alive, check the accounts everywhere. What others owe us and what we owe others—ask the old clerks to calculate and see how much silver the family still has.”

Aunt Xue wept and said, “These past days my whole heart has been on your brother’s case. When you come, either you urge me, or I tell you about the yamen. You still do not know: our status as imperial merchants in the capital has already been revoked. Two pawnshops have been pledged to others, and the silver obtained has long been spent. There is another pawnshop whose manager ran off with the money, leaving a deficit of several thousand taels, and that too is tangled in the lawsuit. Xue Ke is out every day collecting debts. He estimates that several tens of thousands of taels have already been spent in the capital. Only by selling the silver and property of the southern branch can we make it up. Two days ago I also heard that the public pawnshop in the south has closed for lack of profit. If that is true, I fear my life cannot be preserved.” Then she wept aloud again.

Baochai also wept and comforted her. “About money, Mother, grieving is useless. Second Master Xue Ke is managing it. What I hate is those clerks and servants. When they saw our family declining, they ran away, each for himself. And I hear they even help outsiders extort money from us. It shows that all my brother’s friends in his life were fair-weather friends of wine and meat. In time of danger, not one can be relied on. If you love me, Mother, listen to me. You are old. Take good care of yourself. In this life, I think, you will not suffer cold or hunger. As for the clothes and furniture left at home, let your sister-in-law take them. There is no help for it. The maids and serving women in the house—none of them seem to have the heart to stay. Those who wish to go, let them go. Poor Xiangling has suffered all her life. She can only stay with you, Mother. If there is anything lacking at home, and I have it, I can bring it over. Baoyu will not object. Xiren is also a good woman with a proper heart. When she heard of my brother’s affair and you were mentioned, she shed tears. Baoyu does not yet know of this matter, so he is not greatly worried. If he knew, I fear he would be frightened half to death.”

Before she could finish, Aunt Xue quickly stopped her. “Good child, whatever you do, do not tell him. When Lin girl died, he nearly lost his life. Only now has he begun to recover. If he is agitated into illness again, not only will you have one more trouble, but I will have even less to rely on.” Baochai said, “That is what I thought too, so I have not told him.”

As they were speaking, they heard Jingui run into the outer room, weeping and shouting, “I do not want this life anymore! My husband has no way to live! Let us make a great scene and all go to the execution ground together!” As she shouted, she butted her head against the partition until her hair was disheveled. Aunt Xue was so angry that her eyes stared wide and she could not say a word. Thanks to Baochai, who called her “sister-in-law” again and again and used both kind and stern words, she was at last steadied. Jingui said, “Sister-in-law, you are living comfortably now, not like us. You and your husband live well together. I am now a widow in all but name. What do I need face for?” Then she wanted to run out and go back to her own family. Fortunately there were many people nearby, and they held her back. After a long time of coaxing, she calmed down. Baoqin was so frightened that she did not dare see her again.

Whenever Xue Ke was at home, Jingui would paint her face, dress elaborately, and from time to time pass by the door of Xue Ke’s room, deliberately coughing. Knowing perfectly well that Xue Ke was inside, she would still ask who was in the room. Occasionally when she met Xue Ke, she would put on a delicate, charming manner and ask after his warmth and cold, now happy, now angry. The maids, seeing this, all hurried away, but she herself was unaware and was bent on moving Xue Ke so that she could carry out the plan she had made with Baochan. Xue Ke did nothing but avoid her. When they occasionally met, he had to exchange a few polite words for fear she would make a scene. Jingui, blinded by desire, found him more and more pleasing and thought of him more and more obsessively. She could not see that Xue Ke was deliberately avoiding her. She only noticed that all Xue Ke’s things were kept by Xiangling, and that his clothes were mended and washed by Xiangling too. If the two happened to speak, the moment she came near they would separate at once. Jingui was consumed with jealousy. She wanted to vent her anger on Xue Ke, but could not bear to. So she fixed all her resentment on Xiangling. Yet she feared that if she made trouble for Xiangling, Xue Ke would be displeased. So she held it in for the time being and did not let it out.

One day Baochan came to Jingui with a smile. “Has the mistress seen Second Master Xue?” Jingui said, “No.” Baochan smiled. “I say that Second Master’s hypocritical uprightness cannot be trusted. A few days ago when we sent him wine, he said he could not drink. Just now I saw him going to the mistress’s rooms. His face was flushed and he reeked of wine. If you do not believe me, wait at the courtyard gate in a little while. When he comes from that direction, call him and ask. See what he says.”

When Jingui heard this, her anger rose. She said, “Since he is so heartless and faithless, what use is there in asking him?” Baochan said, “Mistress, you are thinking too narrowly again. If he speaks properly, we will talk properly. If he has a bad attitude, then we will think of another way.” Jingui thought this reasonable. She told Baochan to keep watch and see when Xue Ke came out. Baochan agreed and went out. Jingui opened her mirror, looked at herself again, dabbed her lips, and took up an embroidered silk handkerchief. She was just about to go out when she seemed to have forgotten something, and her mind was restless.

Then she heard Baochan outside say, “Second Master is so happy today. Where did you go to drink?” When Jingui heard this, she knew Baochan was signaling her. She quickly lifted the curtain and came out. She saw Xue Ke saying to Baochan, “Today is Mr. Zhang’s happy day. I could not refuse them, so I forced myself to drink half a cup. Even now my face burns.” Before he had finished, Jingui cut in. “Other people’s wine is naturally more interesting than wine in our own house.” Xue Ke was stung by this. His face grew redder. He quickly came forward with a smile. “Why does Sister-in-law say that?” Baochan, seeing the two of them engaged, slipped into the room.

At first Jingui had meant to scold Xue Ke a few words in pretense. But when she saw his cheeks slightly red and his eyes shy and pitiable, the fierce anger in her heart melted away. She smiled and said, “So someone forced you to drink?” Xue Ke said, “I never could drink.” Jingui said, “It is better not to drink, so you will not make a great disaster like your brother. In the future, when you marry a wife, do not let her become a widow in all but name like me, lonely and suffering!” As she said this, her eyes grew misty and her face flushed. Xue Ke heard her words becoming more and more improper and wanted to turn and leave. How could Jingui let him go? She hurried forward and seized him. Xue Ke said anxiously, “Sister-in-law, please respect yourself.” As he spoke, he trembled all over. Jingui, shameless, said, “Come inside. I have something important to tell you.”

Just as they were struggling, someone behind them suddenly called, “Mistress, Xiangling is coming.” Jingui was startled and turned her head. It was Baochan, who had lifted the curtain to peep at the two. Looking up, she had seen Xiangling coming from that direction and quickly called out to warn Jingui. Jingui was startled, and her hand loosened. Xue Ke seized the chance and ran off. Xiangling had not been paying attention as she walked. Only when she heard Baochan call out did she see Jingui pulling Xue Ke toward the room. Xiangling was so frightened that her heart pounded. She quickly turned and went back the way she had come. Jingui was both startled and angry. She stood blankly watching Xue Ke run far away. After a long daze, she sighed bitterly and went back to her room dejected. From this time on, she hated Xiangling to the marrow.

Xiangling had originally been going to see Baoqin. She had just gone out of the side gate when she came upon this scene. She was so frightened that she went straight back.

That same day, Baochai was in Grandmother Jia’s rooms and heard Lady Wang mention Tanchun’s marriage to the Old Ancestor. Grandmother Jia said, “Since they are fellow townsmen, that is good. But I hear the young man once came to our house. Why did the master not mention it before?” Lady Wang said, “Even we did not know of it.” Grandmother Jia said, “It is good, but the road is very far. Though the master holds office there, if he is later transferred elsewhere, the child will be all alone there. She will be lonely.” Lady Wang said, “Both families are official families, so the future is uncertain. Perhaps the other side may even be transferred back to the capital. Even if not, in the end fallen leaves return to their roots. Besides, the master is in office there, and his superior has already spoken of the match. It would not be easy for us to refuse. I think the master has already made up his mind, but did not dare decide on his own, so he sent someone back to report to you, Old Ancestor.” Grandmother Jia said, “If you are willing, that is well. But once Third Girl leaves, I do not know whether she can come home in two or three years. If it is too long, I fear I may not see her again.” As she spoke, tears fell.

Lady Wang said, “When a girl grows up, she must marry. Even if she married locally, if her husband became an official, who could guarantee they would always stay in one place? It is enough if the child has good fortune. Take Yingchun. She married close by, yet one often hears that she is beaten and cursed by her husband, and even denied food. When we send things, she cannot get them. Recently I hear things are even worse. Her husband’s family will not let her come home. When the couple quarrels, the husband’s family says we spent their silver. That poor girl has no day of escape in her life. A few days ago I was thinking of her and sent someone to visit. Yingchun hid in a small room and would not come out. The old women insisted on going in and saw that in such cold weather she wore only a few old clothes. She said to them with tears, ‘Do not say when you go back that I am living so bitterly. It is fate. There is no need to send more clothes or things. Not only can I not get them, I will be beaten again, and my husband’s family will say I am complaining to the outside.’ Old Ancestor, think: she married close by and still suffers so. When life is bad, the heart suffers even more. Lady Xing does not care for her, and Master Jia She does not intervene either. Now Yingchun lives worse than a third-class maid in our household. Though Tanchun is not my own child, the master has seen the young man and thinks him suitable, or he would not agree. I only ask you, Old Ancestor, to decide, choose a good day, and send a few more people to escort her to the master’s post. The master will not let her be wronged there.” Grandmother Jia said, “Since her father decides, you arrange it properly. Choose an auspicious day for the distant journey and send her. That will settle one great matter.” Lady Wang assented.

Baochai heard all this clearly from the side. She did not dare speak, but she felt secretly grieved. “Among all the girls in our family, Tanchun is the most outstanding, and now she too is to marry far away. Day by day the sisters in the family grow fewer.” When Lady Wang rose to take leave, Baochai followed her out and returned to her own room without speaking to Baoyu. Seeing Xiren doing needlework alone, she told her what she had just heard. Xiren also felt very sad.

Meanwhile, Zhao Yiniang heard that Tanchun was to marry and was secretly pleased. She thought, “This daughter of mine always looked down on me at home. I am her own mother, yet my position is worse than that of the maids beside her. She always takes outsiders’ side. With her standing in the way, even Huan’er gets no benefit. Now that the master is taking her to a distant post, I will be left in peace. To hope for filial respect from her is impossible. I only wish her fate were like Yingchun’s—then I would be satisfied.” Thinking thus, she ran to Tanchun’s room to congratulate her. “Girl, you are going to fly high. At your husband’s side, life will surely be better than at home. I suppose you are willing too. I raised you, yet I gained no benefit from you. Even if I have seven parts wrong, I have three parts good. Do not go out the door and then cast me from your mind.” Tanchun heard these unreasonable words and only lowered her head to her needlework, saying not a word in reply. Zhao Yiniang, seeing that she would not answer, went off angrily.

Tanchun was both angry and amused, and also sad. She could only weep silently. After sitting awhile, she went gloomily to Baoyu’s rooms. Baoyu asked, “Third Sister, I heard that when Cousin Lin died, you were beside her. Some also say that when Cousin Lin passed, immortal music was heard in the distance. Perhaps she was originally a fairy from heaven.” Tanchun smiled. “That is only what you think in your heart. But that night was indeed strange. The sound was not like ordinary drums and music. Your explanation may be possible.” When Baoyu heard this, he believed it even more. He also remembered that some days before, when his spirit had been confused, he had seen a person who said that Daiyu was not like ordinary people in life, and in death was not an ordinary ghost; she must have been a fairy who had descended to the world. Suddenly he also thought of Chang’e in the plays he had seen, ethereal and beautiful, graceful and moving. After a while Tanchun left.

Baoyu insisted on calling Zijuan over and sent word at once to Grandmother Jia’s rooms. Zijuan was unwilling at heart. Even though Grandmother Jia and Lady Wang had ordered her to come and serve Baoyu, she could not refuse, but in Baoyu’s presence she did nothing but sigh or look sullen. Baoyu privately took her hand and humbly tried to ask about Daiyu’s life. Zijuan never answered him with a pleasant face. Baochai privately praised Zijuan for her loyalty and did not blame her. Although Xueyan had helped on the night of Baoyu’s wedding, Baochai saw that her mind was not steady enough, so she reported to Grandmother Jia and Lady Wang and had her married to a young servant, letting the two set up a household. Nurse Wang remained and would later escort Daiyu’s coffin back to the south. Yingge and the other little maids continued to serve Grandmother Jia. Baoyu had always missed Daiyu. Seeing the people around Daiyu scatter one by one, he felt even more depressed. When his depression reached its peak, he suddenly thought: Daiyu had left so cleanly and neatly, she must have left the mortal world and returned to her immortal place. Then he felt a little comforted.

Suddenly he heard Xiren and Baochai speaking of Tanchun’s marriage. When Baoyu heard it, he gave a great cry and fell weeping onto the kang. Baochai and Xiren were frightened and quickly helped him up. They asked, “What is wrong?” Baoyu wept so hard he could not speak. After a long while he said, “These days cannot be endured! One by one our sisters must be parted from us. Cousin Lin has gone to become an immortal. Elder Sister has died, but that is past—we were not often together anyway. Second Sister married a scoundrel. Third Sister is to marry far away, and we may never meet again. Cousin Shi—who knows where she will go? Sister Bao is already married. Must all these sisters leave the house and leave me here alone?” Xiren quickly tried to comfort him. Baochai waved her hand to stop Xiren and said, “Do not urge him. Let me ask him.” Then she said to Baoyu, “By your thinking, should all these sisters stay at home and keep you company until old age, with none of them ever settling their own lives? Never mind others—your own sisters: even if they did not marry far away, if they married far away, it would still be the master’s decision. What could you do? Is it only you in the world who values the bond between sisters? If everyone were like you, then even I could not stay with you. People study to understand reason. How is it that you grow more confused instead? By your reasoning, Xiren and I should each go our own way, and you should call all your sisters to keep watch over you.”

When Baoyu heard this, he reached out and took Baochai’s and Xiren’s hands. “I understand the reasoning. But why must we scatter so early? It would be time enough to part after I have turned to ashes.” Xiren quickly covered his mouth. “You are talking nonsense again. You have only just begun to recover these last two days, and the Second Mistress has only just been able to eat. If you stir up trouble again, I will not bother with you.” Baoyu gradually realized that both of them spoke reasonably. He was only unbearably sad. He forced himself to say, “I understand the reasoning, but my heart feels stifled.” Baochai did not urge him further. She quietly told Xiren to give him calming medicine and slowly guide him. Xiren planned to tell Tanchun not to come say goodbye before she left. Baochai said, “There is no need. In a few days, when his feelings have calmed and he is a little clearer, they should still have a good talk. Besides, Third Girl is a sensible person, not one of those false-hearted ones. Before she leaves, she will certainly advise him well, and afterward he will not be like this.”

As they were speaking, Grandmother Jia sent Yuanyang over. Hearing that Baoyu’s old illness had returned, she told Xiren to comfort him well and not let him brood. Xiren and the others agreed. Yuanyang sat awhile and then went back. Grandmother Jia also thought of Tanchun’s distant marriage. Even if the dowry need not be excessively lavish, all the personal things she would need must be prepared in advance. She called Xifeng and told her Jia Zheng’s plan, instructing her to begin the preparations. Xifeng agreed. How matters were arranged will be told in the next chapter.