Tearing a Fan for a Smile Worth a Thousand Gold Pieces; A Golden Kylin Foreshadows a White-Haired Pair

When Xiren saw the blood she had spat on the floor, her heart sank. She recalled the old saying: "A young person who spits blood will not live long; even if they do, they'll be an invalid for life." At this thought, all her former ambitions of winning favour and glory faded away, and tears fell from her eyes. Baoyu, seeing her cry, felt a pang of sorrow and asked, "How do you feel?" Xiren forced a smile, "I feel fine—why do you ask?" Baoyu wanted immediately to have heated wine and the "Mountain Goat Blood Pills" brought. Xiren took his hand and laughed, "If you make a fuss, you'll stir up a crowd of people, and they'll blame me for being pretentious. No one knows about this now, but if you let it all out, everyone will know, which will be bad for you and for me. Better to send a servant to ask Dr. Wang tomorrow, and get some medicine to take quietly. Wouldn't that be better?" Baoyu saw the sense in this and agreed. He poured tea for Xiren to rinse her mouth. Knowing Baoyu would be uneasy unless she let him attend to her, and that he would insist on calling others if she refused, she let him do as he pleased. At the fifth watch, Baoyu, not bothering to wash, hurriedly dressed and went to see Wang Jiren, questioning him in detail. Wang Jiren, hearing the cause—a simple injury—prescribed a pill and gave instructions for its use and application. Baoyu noted it all down and returned to the garden to follow the treatment. No more of that.

That day was the Dragon Boat Festival. Mugwort and calamus hung at the gates, and everyone wore tiger-shaped charms on their arms. At midday, Lady Wang hosted a feast for Aunt Xue and her daughter to celebrate the holiday. Baoyu noticed Baochai was cool and distant, not speaking to him, and knew it was because of the previous day's incident. Lady Wang, seeing Baoyu listless, assumed it was because of what had happened with Jinchuan, and she too ignored him. Lin Daiyu, seeing Baoyu languid, thought it was because he had offended Baochai, and she too felt out of sorts. Xifeng, having been told by Lady Wang the night before about Baoyu and Jinchuan, knew Lady Wang was upset and dared not joke or laugh, following her mood and remaining subdued. The other girls, seeing everyone so cheerless, also felt uncomfortable. So they sat for a while and then dispersed.

Lin Daiyu by nature preferred separation to gathering. She had her own reasoning: "When people gather, there is joy, but when they part, there is desolation. Desolation brings sorrow, so it's better not to gather at all. Just as flowers are lovely when they bloom, but their fading brings melancholy—better they never bloom." So when others were happy, she was often sad. Baoyu, on the other hand, loved gatherings and hated partings, which brought him grief; he wished flowers would always bloom, for when they faded, it was a disappointment. Yet when feasts broke up and flowers withered, no matter how much he grieved, he could do nothing. So today, when the feast dispersed without pleasure, Daiyu felt nothing, but Baoyu was gloomy. Returning to his room, he sighed and fretted. Just then Qingwen came to help him change clothes and accidentally dropped his fan, breaking the ribs. Baoyu sighed, "Clumsy fool! What will become of you? When you're on your own, will you still be so heedless?" Qingwen sneered, "You've been in such a temper lately, always giving us dirty looks. The other day you even hit Xiren, and now you're finding fault with us. Do what you like—kick me or beat me. Breaking a fan is nothing. You've smashed glass jars and agate bowls before without a word, but now a fan sets you off. Why bother? If you're tired of us, send us away and find better ones. A clean break would be fine, wouldn't it?" Baoyu trembled with rage, "Don't worry—the day will come when we part!"

Xiren, hearing this from nearby, hurried over, "What's wrong now? Just as I said, 'The moment I'm not there, there's trouble.'" Qingwen sneered, "Since you're so good at talking, you should have come sooner and saved the master his anger. All along, it's been only you who serves him—we've never served at all. Because you serve so well, you got a kick in the chest yesterday. As for us who can't serve, who knows what punishment awaits us tomorrow!" Xiren, stung by these words, was both angry and ashamed. She wanted to retort, but seeing Baoyu's face yellow with rage, she restrained herself and pushed Qingwen, "Dear sister, go out for a while—it was our fault." Qingwen, hearing "our," took it as meaning Xiren and Baoyu, and grew even more jealous. She sneered, "I don't know who 'we' are—don't make me ashamed for you! I know all your sneaky little doings, so don't talk about 'us.' You haven't even earned the title of 'concubine' yet—you're no better than me, so don't go on about 'us'!" Xiren's face flushed purple with shame as she realized she had misspoken. Baoyu said, "If you're unhappy, tomorrow I'll promote her!" Xiren took Baoyu's hand, "She's a foolish girl—why argue with her? Besides, you're usually so tolerant—you've let much worse things pass. What's wrong today?" Qingwen sneered, "I'm just a fool—not worth talking to!" Xiren said, "Are you quarrelling with me or with the master? If you're angry with me, say so to me, not in front of him. If you're angry with him, you shouldn't shout so everyone hears. I only came to calm things down. Instead, you attack me—it's neither here nor there. I won't say more—you can talk all you want." She turned to leave. Baoyu said to Qingwen, "Don't be angry. I know what's on your mind. I'll go to Aunt and tell her you're grown up—she can send you out. How about that?" Qingwen, hearing this, was heartbroken and said tearfully, "Why should I be sent out? If you're tired of me, you can try to send me away, but you won't succeed." Baoyu said, "Have I ever had such a row? You must want to leave. I'll go and tell Aunt." He rose to go. Xiren turned back and stopped him, "Where are you going?" "To tell Aunt." Xiren laughed, "How silly! Would you really do that—aren't you ashamed? Even if she is to be sent out, wait till the anger passes, then mention it casually. To go now in a huff would only make Aunt suspicious." Baoyu said, "She won't suspect—I'll tell her plainly she's been making a scene." Qingwen wept, "When did I ever make a scene? Not only are you angry, but you shift the blame to me. Go ahead—I'd rather dash my head against the wall than leave this gate!" Baoyu said, "How strange! If you won't leave, why make such a fuss? I can't bear this noise—I'd be better off going." He insisted on reporting it. Seeing she couldn't stop him, Xiren knelt. Bihun, Qiowen, Sheyue, and the other maids, who had been silently listening outside, all came in and knelt when they heard Xiren begging. Baoyu helped Xiren up, sighed, and sat on the bed, telling the others to rise. He said to Xiren, "What am I to do? I've worn my heart out, and no one understands." Tears fell. Seeing him cry, Xiren also wept.

Qingwen, standing by crying, was about to speak when Lin Daiyu entered, and she slipped out. Daiyu laughed, "Why are you crying on a holiday? Did you quarrel over zongzi?" Baoyu and Xiren both laughed. Daiyu said, "If Second Brother won't tell me, I'll ask you." She patted Xiren's shoulder, "Dear sister-in-law, tell me—you two must have quarrelled. Tell me, and I'll patch things up." Xiren pushed her away, "Miss Lin, what are you doing? I'm just a maid—don't talk nonsense." Daiyu laughed, "You may be a maid, but I treat you like a sister-in-law." Baoyu said, "Why give her a bad name? There's already gossip—you don't need to add to it." Xiren laughed, "Miss Lin, you don't know my heart—I'd be better off dead." Daiyu laughed, "If you die, I don't know about others, but I'll cry myself to death." Baoyu laughed, "If you die, I'll become a monk." Xiren laughed, "Be quiet—why say such things?" Daiyu held up two fingers, smiling, "Two monks now. I'll keep count from now on." Baoyu knew she was referring to his earlier words and smiled without answering.

Soon after Daiyu left, word came that "Master Xue invites you," and Baoyu had to go. It was a drinking party, and he couldn't refuse, so he stayed until the end. Returning that evening, slightly tipsy, he staggered into his courtyard. A summer bed had been set out, with someone lying on it. Assuming it was Xiren, he sat on the edge and pushed her, asking, "Does it still hurt?" The person turned over and said, "What are you bothering me for?" It wasn't Xiren—it was Qingwen. Baoyu pulled her up to sit beside him and laughed, "You're getting more spoiled by the day. This morning when you dropped the fan, I only said a couple of words, and you flew into a rage. Fine if you're angry at me, but Xiren only tried to help, and you dragged her into it. Think it over—was that right?" Qingwen said, "It's so hot—why pull me? People will see! And I'm not fit to sit here." Baoyu laughed, "If you know you're not fit, why were you lying there?" Qingwen had no answer, then laughed, "If you hadn't come, I'd be fine. Now that you're here, I'm not. Let me up—I'm going to bathe. Xiren and Sheyue have already bathed; I'll call them." Baoyu laughed, "I've had a good deal to drink and need a wash. Since you haven't bathed, bring the water and we'll bathe together." Qingwen waved her hands, "No, no—I don't dare. Remember when Bihun helped you bathe—it took two or three hours, goodness knows what went on. We couldn't go in. Afterwards, the floor was flooded up to the bed-legs and even the mat was soaked—we laughed for days. I don't have the energy to clean up, and I won't bathe with you. It's cool today—I've already washed and don't need another. I'll pour some water for you to wash your face and comb your hair. Yuanyang sent some fruit, chilling in that crystal bowl—have some." Baoyu laughed, "In that case, you don't need to wash—just wash your hands and get the fruit." Qingwen laughed, "I'm so clumsy I broke a fan—how could I be trusted with fruit? If I break the bowl, it'll be worse." Baoyu laughed, "Break what you like—these things are only for use. If you like to tear fans for fun, that's fine, as long as it's not in anger. If you enjoy the sound of breaking cups, that's also fine, as long as it's not in anger. That's how you truly value things." Qingwen laughed, "If so, give me a fan to tear—I love tearing them." Baoyu handed her one. She took it and tore it in two with a rip, then tore it again. Baoyu laughed, "That sounds good—tear it louder!" Sheyue came over, laughing, "Don't be so destructive." Baoyu snatched the fan from her hand and gave it to Qingwen, who tore it to pieces. They both laughed. Sheyue said, "What's this—using my things for fun?" Baoyu laughed, "Open the fan box and pick another—it's nothing." Sheyue said, "If so, I'll bring the box out and let her tear them all." Baoyu said, "Go ahead." Sheyue said, "I won't do such mischief. She hasn't broken her arms—she can get them herself." Qingwen leaned on the bed, laughing, "I'm tired—I'll tear more tomorrow." Baoyu laughed, "As the ancients said, 'A smile is worth a thousand gold pieces'—what are a few fans?" He called for Xiren, who had just changed and come out. Little Jiahui picked up the broken pieces, and they all sat in the cool evening air.

The next afternoon, Lady Wang, Baochai, Lin Daiyu, and the other girls were sitting in the Dowager's room when word came, "Miss Shi has arrived." Soon Shi Xiangyun entered the courtyard with her maids and servants. Baochai and Daiyu hurried down the steps to greet her. Among young ladies, a month's parting made their reunion all the warmer. They went inside, exchanged greetings and salutations. The Dowager said, "It's hot—take off your outer clothes." Xiangyun rose and removed her wraps. Lady Wang laughed, "Why wear so many?" Xiangyun laughed, "My second aunt made me wear them—who'd choose to?" Baochai said, "Aunt doesn't know—she likes wearing other people's clothes even more. Remember last March or April when she stayed here and put on Brother Bao's robe and boots, with his headband? At a glance she looked just like him, except for the earrings. She stood behind a chair, and the Old Ancestress kept calling, 'Baoyu, come here—mind the lamp tassels don't drop soot in your eyes.' She just laughed and didn't move. Finally everyone laughed, and the Old Ancestress said, 'Dressed as a boy, you look better.'" Lin Daiyu said, "That's nothing. The year before last, in the first month, we brought her here. Two days later it snowed, and the Old Ancestress had just returned from the shrine. Her new red felt cloak was lying there, and before anyone noticed, Xiangyun had put it on—it was huge and long, so she tied a sash around her waist and went with the maids to make snowmen in the back yard, fell into a ditch, and got covered in mud." They all laughed at the memory. Baochai said to her nurse, "Is your young lady still as mischievous?" The nurse smiled. Yingchun laughed, "Mischief I can forgive—but she talks too much. Even in bed she chatters and laughs—where does she get so much to say?" Lady Wang said, "Perhaps she's better now. The other day she had a matchmaker visit—she'll have a mother-in-law soon." The Dowager asked, "Will you stay here today or go home?" The nurse said, "Didn't you see we brought her things? She'll stay a couple of days." Xiangyun asked, "Is Brother Bao not here?" Baochai laughed, "She thinks of no one else—only of Brother Bao. She hasn't changed at all." The Dowager said, "You're all grown up now—don't use childhood names."

Just then Baoyu arrived, laughing, "Cousin Yun is here! Why didn't you come when I sent for you the other day?" Lady Wang said, "The Dowager just said not to use names, and here he is again." Lin Daiyu said, "Your brother has something good waiting for you." Xiangyun said, "What?" Baoyu laughed, "Don't believe her—you've grown taller." Xiangyun said, "How is Sister Xiren?" Baoyu said, "Thanks for asking." Xiangyun said, "I brought her something nice." She took out a handkerchief tied in a knot. Baoyu said, "What is it? Why not bring some of those red-stone rings you sent before?" Xiangyun said, "What's this?" She opened it—four of those same rings. Lin Daiyu laughed, "Look at her! You sent us some the other day—why not bring hers at the same time? Today you've brought them yourself, and I thought it was something new—it's the same old thing. You're so foolish." Xiangyun laughed, "You're the fool! Let me explain. When I send you things, the messenger doesn't need to say anything—just bring them in and everyone knows they're for the young ladies. But if I send things for maids, I'd have to tell the messenger which is for whom. If he's sharp, fine; if not, he'll forget the names and mix everything up. If I sent a woman I knew, it would be all right, but the other day I had to send a boy—how could he remember the maids' names? By bringing them myself, it's all clear." She put down the rings, "One for Sister Xiren, one for Sister Yuanyang, one for Sister Jinchuan, one for Sister Ping'er—could a boy remember that so clearly?" Everyone laughed, "Indeed, you're the clear-headed one." Baoyu laughed, "You still talk rings around everyone." Lin Daiyu sneered, "She may not talk, but her golden kylin can talk." She rose and left. Fortunately no one else heard, except Baochai, who smiled. Baoyu, hearing it, regretted his words, then seeing Baochai smile, he smiled too. Baochai, seeing him smile, left and went to talk to Daiyu.

The Dowager said to Xiangyun, "After tea, go and see your sisters-in-law. The garden is cool—take your cousins for a walk." Xiangyun agreed, wrapped the rings, and after resting, went to see Xifeng and the others. Her maids and nurses followed. She chatted with Xifeng, then went to the Grand View Garden, saw Li Wan, and after a short visit, went to the Crimson Delight Court to find Xiren. She said, "You needn't follow—go visit your friends and relatives. Just Cuilu will do." The others went off to find their own friends, leaving only Xiangyun and Cuilu. Cuilu asked, "Why haven't these lotuses bloomed?" Xiangyun said, "It's not time yet." Cuilu said, "Are they like the ones in our pond—tiered flowers?" Xiangyun said, "Theirs aren't as good as ours." Cuilu said, "There's a pomegranate over there with several branches—truly tiered. It's amazing how it grows." Xiangyun said, "Plants are like people—if their vitality is strong, they grow well." Cuilu turned her head, "I don't believe that. If they're like people, why don't I see people with another head growing out of theirs?" Xiangyun laughed, "I told you not to talk, but you insist. How can I answer that? All things in heaven and earth come from the two forces—yin and yang. They may be good or evil, strange or wondrous, with endless variations, but the principle is the same." Cuilu said, "So from the beginning of time, everything has been yin and yang?" Xiangyun laughed, "Silly thing—the more you talk, the more nonsense you spout. There's only one principle, and yin and yang are just aspects of it." Cuilu said, "I'm so confused! What are yin and yang—they have no shape. I just want to know: what do they look like?" Xiangyun said, "Yin and yang have no shape—they're just forces that give form to things. For example, heaven is yang, earth is yin; water is yin, fire is yang; the sun is yang, the moon is yin." Cuilu laughed, "I see! No wonder they call the sun the 'great yang' and the moon the 'great yin'—that's the principle." Xiangyun laughed, "Finally you understand!" Cuilu said, "But do even mosquitoes, fleas, gnats, flowers, grass, tiles, and bricks have yin and yang?" Xiangyun said, "Of course—even a leaf has yin and yang. The side facing the sun is yang; the side underneath is yin." Cuilu nodded, "I understand. But what about this fan in my hand—which side is yang and which is yin?" Xiangyun said, "The front is yang, the back is yin." Cuilu nodded and was about to ask more, but couldn't think of anything. Looking down, she saw the golden kylin on Xiangyun's sash and picked it up, "Does this have yin and yang too?" Xiangyun said, "Birds and beasts—males are yang, females are yin. Of course it does!" Cuilu said, "Is this male or female?" Xiangyun said, "I don't know." Cuilu said, "Never mind that—if things have yin and yang, why don't people?" Xiangyun spat, "Rude girl! Walk properly—your questions are getting worse!" Cuilu laughed, "Why can't you tell me? I already know—don't make me say it." Xiangyun laughed, "What do you know?" Cuilu said, "You are yang, and I am yin." Xiangyun laughed into her handkerchief. Cuilu said, "If I'm right, why laugh?" Xiangyun said, "Yes, yes." Cuilu said, "After all, the mistress is yang and the servant is yin—even I know that much!" Xiangyun laughed, "You know a lot."

As they walked, they reached the rose trellis. Xiangyun said, "Look—someone dropped a piece of jewellery, all glittering." Cuilu picked it up and said, "Now we can tell which is yin and which is yang." She first examined Xiangyun's kylin. Xiangyun wanted to see what she had found, but Cuilu wouldn't let go, laughing, "It's a treasure—you can't see it yet. Where did this come from? I've never seen anyone here with one." Xiangyun said, "Let me see." Cuilu let go, "Look." Xiangyun saw a magnificent golden kylin, larger and more ornate than her own. She held it in her hand, silent and thoughtful. Just then Baoyu came over, laughing, "What are you two doing in the sun? Why aren't you looking for Xiren?" Xiangyun quickly hid the kylin, "We were just going—let's go together." They entered the Crimson Delight Court. Xiren was leaning on the railing in the cool air. Seeing Xiangyun, she hurried down and took her hand, talking of old times. They went in and sat down. Baoyu laughed, "You should have come earlier—I found a good thing and was saving it for you." He fumbled in his clothes, then said, "Oh! Did you put that thing away?" Xiren said, "What thing?" "The kylin I got the other day." Xiren said, "You wear it every day—why ask me?" Baoyu slapped his hand, "I've lost it—where can I find it?" He was about to go look. Xiangyun realized it was his and laughed, "When did you get a kylin?" Baoyu said, "I got it with great difficulty the other day—I don't know when I lost it." Xiangyun said, "It's just a plaything—why panic?" She held it out, "Is this it?" Baoyu was overjoyed and was about to speak… We shall hear what he said in the next chapter.