The Drunken Diamond, a Little Fish, Stirs Up Great Waves; The Foolish Young Master's Lingering Pain Stirs Old Feelings

Jia Yucun was just about to cross the river when he suddenly saw a man come running up. The man rushed to the front of his sedan and reported, "Your Honor, the temple you just entered is on fire!" Yucun turned and looked. Flames were leaping into the sky, and flying ash filled the air. Yucun thought to himself: This is strange. I had only just come out and had not gone far. How did the fire start? Could Zhen Shiyin have met with disaster in the temple? He wanted to go back and look, but feared delaying the river crossing. Yet if he did not go, his heart would be uneasy. After thinking a moment, he asked the man, "Did you see that old Daoist run out?" The man answered, "Your servant followed you out, then suddenly had a stomachache and stepped away for a moment. When I turned back, the flames were already shooting up. Only then did I know the temple was on fire. I hurried here to report to you, sir. I did not see anyone escape." Yucun was full of doubt, but his heart was set on fame and wealth. He was unwilling to go back and risk a look. He told the man, "Wait here. When the fire is out, go into the temple and see whether the old Daoist is still there. Come back at once and report to me." The man had no choice but to agree and stayed where he was.

Yucun crossed the river and went on to inspect official business. He examined several places and rested at the official post stations. The next day he traveled another stage and returned to the capital. The runners came out to meet him and escorted him into the city with a great show of attendants before and behind. As Yucun sat in his sedan, he heard the outriders making a commotion ahead. Yucun asked what had happened. The outrunners brought a man kneeling before the sedan and reported, "This man is drunk. He did not know to make way for an official sedan, but rushed straight at it. When we shouted at him, he used his drunkenness to act shamelessly. He lay down in the middle of the street and falsely accused us of beating him." Yucun said, "I am the local official here, and you are all my people. You clearly saw the official procession and, being drunk, still did not make way. You even dared to play the rogue!" The man said, "I spent my own money on drink, and when drunk I lie on the emperor's earth. Even a great official has no right to meddle with me." Yucun was furious. "This man has no fear of the law at all. Ask him his name." The man answered, "My name is Drunken Diamond Ni Er." When Yucun heard this, he grew even angrier. He ordered his men, "Beat this Diamond and see just how hard he really is!" The runners pressed Ni Er to the ground and gave him several sharp lashes. Ni Er was in such pain that his drunkenness left him. He quickly begged for mercy. Yucun sat in his sedan and sneered. "So this is the famous Diamond. I will not beat you for now. Take him back to the yamen and question him slowly." The runners answered and locked Ni Er up, leading him away. Ni Er begged bitterly, but it was of no use.

Yucun returned to court to report on his mission and went to his office to handle official business. He did not take the small matter of Ni Er to heart at all. The idlers in the street discussed it in twos and threes. "Ni Er relied on his strength and, when drunk, extorted people. Today he ran into Lord Jia. I fear he will not be let off lightly." These words reached the ears of Ni Er's wife and daughter. That night Ni Er did not come home. His daughter ran to the gambling houses everywhere to look for him. The people in the gambling houses all said the same thing. The girl wept in anxiety. Someone advised her, "Do not worry. This Lord Jia is a relative of the Rong-guo House. In the Jia household there is a Second Master who is on very good terms with your father. Go with your mother and beg him to plead for you, and the man will be released." Ni Er's daughter thought it over. "Indeed, Father often says that Master Jia Er of the neighboring Jia household is close to him. Why not go and ask him for help?" She hurried home to discuss it with her mother.

Mother and daughter went to find Jia Yun. That day Jia Yun happened to be at home. Seeing them come, he asked them to sit, and Jia Yun's mother brought tea. Ni Er's wife and daughter told him the whole story of Ni Er being seized by Jia Yucun and begged Jia Yun to plead for him and get him released. Jia Yun agreed readily. "This little matter is nothing. I will go to the West Mansion and say one word, and he will be released. Jia Yucun owes his great office entirely to our Jia household's support. Send someone with a word, and it is done." Ni Er's wife and daughter were delighted. They went home and sent word to Ni Er in prison, telling him not to worry. They had asked Master Jia Yun, who had promised to plead for him, and he would soon be out. When Ni Er heard this, he felt reassured.

But who would have known that ever since Jia Yun had sent gifts and Xifeng refused them, Jia Yun had lost face and rarely went to the Rong-guo House. The gatekeepers of the Jia household always followed the masters' expressions. If the master favored someone, the visitor was announced. If the master did not think much of him, then no matter whether he was a clansman or relative, he was stopped at the gate and sent away casually. That day Jia Yun came to the gate and said he wished to see Second Master Jia Lian. The gatekeeper said, "The Second Master is not at home. When he returns, we will pass on your message." Jia Yun had also wanted to see Wang Xifeng, but feared the gatekeepers would be annoyed, so he had to go home dejected.

Ni Er's wife and daughter came again and again to urge him. "The Second Master said our household would speak, and which yamen would dare not show respect? We are all relatives. It is not some great case. If you cannot even get this small favor, what sort of Second Master are you?" Jia Yun was embarrassed but still put on a bold face. "A few days ago I had family matters and did not have time to go. Today I will go once, and the man will be released. What great matter is it?" Ni Er's wife and daughter could only believe him for the time being.

But now Jia Yun could not even get through the main gate of the Rong-guo House. He went around to the back gate, hoping to enter Prospect Garden and find Baoyu, but the garden gate was locked tight. He could only go home dejected. He grumbled inwardly: In those years, thanks to Ni Er lending me money, I bought perfume and gifts and only then got the job of planting trees. Now that I have no money to grease palms, they shut me out. The Jia household people are not necessarily so clean themselves. They use the public silver left by their ancestors to lend at usury outside. We poor clansmen cannot even borrow a tael of silver. They think they can be rich and secure forever, but their reputation outside is terrible. If one were to speak of it, who knows how many cases involving human lives are tied to them.

Thus thinking, he reached home. Ni Er's wife and daughter were still waiting there. Jia Yun had no way to put them off, so he could only say, "I have already asked someone at the West Mansion to speak. It is only that Jia Yucun will not loosen his mouth. You would do better to go to Leng Zixing, a relative of the Jia household servant Zhou Rui. Perhaps asking him will work." Ni Er's wife and daughter said, "If a respectable gentleman like you cannot manage it, going to a servant will be even more useless." Jia Yun was very embarrassed and anxious. "You do not understand. These days some servants have more power than their masters." Ni Er's wife and daughter had no way out. They only gave a cold laugh. "Thank you, Second Master, for your trouble these past days. When our man is out, we will come again to thank you." Then they left. Later they found other connections and at last got Ni Er out. He had only been given a few strokes of the rod and was not given a heavy sentence.

When Ni Er returned home, his wife and daughter told him how Jia Yun had refused to help. Ni Er's drunken anger rose. He stormed off to find Jia Yun, cursing, "This ungrateful little beast! In those days he was so poor he could not eat. He came to the Jia household to worm his way into a job. It was I, Ni Er, who gave him money to help him. Now that I am in trouble, he washes his hands of me. Fine. If you really push me, I will make a scene and see that neither of the Jia households has any peace!" His wife and daughter quickly urged him, "Oh, you are drunk and talking without restraint again. The beating you got for making a drunken scene a few days ago has not healed, and now you want to stir up trouble again."

Ni Er said, "Do you think I am afraid of them because I was beaten? I only lack a pretext! While in prison, I met many loyal friends. I heard from them that not only are there many people surnamed Jia in the capital, there are also many Jia clan members in the provinces. A while ago several Jia household servants were locked up. At first I thought: the younger generation and servants of the capital Jia household may behave badly, but the older generation is still decent. How could they also get into trouble? Later I found out those were Jia branches from the provinces, sent here for sentencing after trial. Only then was I reassured. That boy Jia Yun is ungrateful. I will tell my friends everywhere about how the Jia household uses its power to oppress the people, squeeze ordinary folk, and seize other men's wives. When it spreads everywhere and reaches the censors' ears, and the matter grows great, they will know how formidable I, Drunken Diamond Ni Er, am!"

His wife urged him, "You are drunk. Go to sleep. What seizing of women? Do not talk nonsense." Ni Er said, "You stay at home and know nothing of the outside. A few years ago I met Xiao Zhang in a gambling house. His wife had been seized by the Jia family. He came to me for advice, and I urged him to let the matter drop. I do not know where Xiao Zhang has gone these last two years. If I could find him, I would certainly make Jia Yun suffer and properly honor me, Ni Er, before I am done." Then he fell back and lay down, muttering for a while, and fell asleep. His wife and daughter took it for drunken talk and did not take it to heart. The next morning Ni Er went off to the gambling house again. Of this we shall say no more for now.

Now to return to Jia Yucun. He went home and rested for a night. He told his wife about meeting Zhen Shiyin on the road and what had happened at the temple. His wife blamed him. "Why did you not go back and look? If the old Daoist burned to death, would we not feel uneasy?" As she spoke, tears fell. Yucun said, "He is a man who has left the world. He never wished to associate with worldly people like us."

As he was speaking, a servant came in and reported, "The runner you sent to look at the burned temple has returned." Yucun went out. The runner bowed and reported, "Your servant obeyed your order and went back. Before the great fire was out, I risked going into the temple. The place where the old Daoist sat in meditation had burned clean away. I thought he must have burned to death. The walls had collapsed. There was not even a shadow of a person to be seen. Only a straw mat and a gourd remained intact. I searched everywhere for the body, but could not find even a fragment of bone. I feared you would not believe me, so I wanted to bring back the mat and gourd as proof. But as soon as I touched them, both turned to ash." When Yucun heard this, he understood in his heart that Zhen Shiyin had attained the Way and gone. He dismissed the runner. Returning to the inner rooms, he did not tell his wife that no bones had been found, fearing a woman's mind would make too much of it and grieve. He said only that no one was seen in the temple and the Daoist must have left beforehand.

Yucun went to his study and sat alone. He was just about to ponder carefully what Zhen Shiyin had said when a servant hurried in and reported, "A decree has come from the palace. You are summoned to court on official business." Yucun quickly got into his sedan and entered the palace. On the way he heard people talking. "Jia Cunzhou, that is Jia Zheng, has been impeached from his post as Jiangxi grain intendant and has returned to the capital. He is at court confessing his faults." Yucun hurried to the Grand Secretariat and met the various officials. He read the decree reprimanding the mishandling of affairs on the sea frontier, then at once found Jia Zheng. First he spoke a few polite words of sympathy, then asked after him. "Was the journey smooth?" Jia Zheng told him in detail all that had happened since they parted. Yucun asked, "Has the memorial confessing your faults been submitted?" Jia Zheng said, "It has been sent up. When the emperor finishes his meal, the decree will be issued."

As they spoke, a decree came from within summoning Jia Zheng into the hall. Jia Zheng hurried in. Several ministers friendly with Jia Zheng waited outside. After a long time Jia Zheng came out, his head covered in sweat. The others came forward and asked what the decree said. Jia Zheng put out his tongue and said, "It frightened me to death! Thank you all for your concern. Fortunately there was no great crime." The others pressed him on what the emperor had asked. Jia Zheng said, "The emperor brought up the case of the hidden divine guns in Yunnan. The memorial said the criminal was a servant of the former Grand Preceptor Jia Hua. The emperor was reminded of our ancestors and asked. I quickly kowtowed and explained that my ancestor's name was Jia Daihua. The emperor laughed and asked again, 'Was there not also a Jia Hua who served in the Ministry of War and later became a prefect?' At that time Yucun happened to be standing nearby and was startled to hear it. The emperor asked again, 'Is the Jia Fan mentioned in the Suzhou prefect's memorial of the same clan as you?' I kowtowed and said he was indeed of our clan. The emperor's face changed. 'Even if he was a household servant, to dare seize a good man's wife—this is too much!' I did not dare say another word. The emperor then asked what relation Jia Fan was to me. I quickly said he was only a distant clansman. The emperor gave a cold hum and told me to withdraw. It was truly a strange matter."

Everyone said it was indeed a coincidence that two cases in a row involved the surname Jia. Jia Zheng said, "The matter itself is not strange. The trouble is that both are surnamed Jia. Our clan is large and its history long. Branches are scattered throughout the country. Although I am not implicated now, the emperor has noted the surname Jia in his heart. In the end it is not a good thing." The others advised him that true and false could be distinguished and he need not worry. Jia Zheng sighed. "In my heart I would be glad to resign and retire, but I do not dare ask for retirement. The family still has two hereditary titles. There is no help for it." Yucun advised, "You still hold office in the Ministry of Works. Remaining in the capital as an official should not bring trouble." Jia Zheng said, "Capital posts may be safe, but I have been posted outside twice. Idle talk outside is unavoidable." Everyone praised Jia Zheng for his upright conduct and said Jia She was also a good man. They only needed to discipline the younger generation strictly.

Jia Zheng said, "I am often away from home and know little of the younger generation's affairs. My heart has never been at ease. Since you have brought it up, and we are all close friends, have you heard whether my nephew in the East Mansion has done anything improper?" The others said they had heard of no great problem. They said only that he was not on good terms with several vice ministers, and there was some idle talk among the palace eunuchs. It should be no great matter. They advised that the younger generation be told to be careful in all things. Then they bowed to one another and dispersed.

Jia Zheng returned home. His sons and nephews all came out to welcome him. Jia Zheng first went to pay his respects to Grandmother Jia. Afterward the younger generation greeted him, and they entered the mansion together. Lady Wang and the others had long been waiting in the Rongxi Hall. Jia Zheng first paid his respects to Grandmother Jia and told her all that had happened since he left. Grandmother Jia asked about Tanchun. Jia Zheng reported clearly on Tanchun's distant marriage. "I set out in haste and could not wait until the Double Ninth Festival. I did not see it with my own eyes. The people from the in-law's family say Tanchun is well. The master and mistress of the in-law's house send their regards to the Old Ancestor. They say there may be a chance to be transferred back to the capital between this winter and next spring. That would be good. Only, the sea frontier has not been peaceful lately, so it may not come about as they wish."

At first Grandmother Jia, hearing that Jia Zheng had been demoted and thinking of Tanchun married far away with no support, was depressed. After hearing Jia Zheng explain the official matter in detail and learning that Tanchun was safe, her grief turned to joy. She smiled and told Jia Zheng to go and rest. Then the brothers met, the younger generation paid their respects, and it was settled that early the next morning they would go to the ancestral hall to worship the ancestors.

Jia Zheng returned to his own rooms. Lady Wang and the women greeted him. Baoyu and Jia Lian paid their respects separately. Jia Zheng saw that Baoyu, compared with when he had left home, was fuller in face and steadier in manner. How could he know that Baoyu was inwardly bitter and dazed? Jia Zheng was very pleased and put the vexation of his demotion out of his mind, thinking it was thanks to the Old Ancestor's good care. He also saw that Baochai was steadier than before, and Jia Lan elegant and handsome. His face was full of joy. Only Jia Huan was the same as ever, and Jia Zheng still did not much like him. After resting a while, Jia Zheng suddenly felt a movement in his heart and sensed that one person was missing. Lady Wang knew he was thinking of Daiyu. Now that Jia Zheng had just returned and the whole family was rejoicing, it was not convenient to speak directly of the death. She could only put it off by saying Daiyu was ill in bed.

Baoyu's heart had long been cut as if by a knife. But since his father had just returned, he could only force himself to attend carefully. Lady Wang set out a family banquet to welcome Jia Zheng. Sons and grandsons took turns offering wine. Wang Xifeng, though a niece-in-law, managed the household, and she too came forward with Baochai to offer wine. Jia Zheng instructed, "After one round of wine, everyone may go back and rest. The servants need not wait on us here. After we worship at the ancestral hall tomorrow, we will formally receive greetings." When all was arranged, Jia Zheng and Lady Wang spoke of small matters since their parting. Of other sorrowful matters Lady Wang did not dare bring them up on her own. It was Jia Zheng who first mentioned Wang Ziteng's death. Lady Wang forced down her grief. Later, when Jia Zheng mentioned Xue Pan's lawsuit, Lady Wang said he had brought it on himself. Taking that chance, she told Jia Zheng that Lin Daiyu had died. Jia Zheng was greatly shocked and could not keep from shedding tears. He sighed again and again. Lady Wang also could not control her weeping. Caiyun nearby quickly tugged at her sleeve, and Lady Wang stopped her grief and said some comforting words. Each then rested.

The next morning the whole family went to the ancestral hall for the great rites of worship. All the sons and nephews went with them. Jia Zheng sat in the side room beside the ancestral hall and called Jia Zhen and Jia Lian to ask about household affairs. Jia Zhen told him only what could be told. Jia Zheng said, "I have just returned and it is not convenient to investigate closely. But I hear rumors outside that the household is far from what it was. In all matters you must be careful and prudent. You are no longer young. You must discipline the younger generation well and not let them cause trouble outside and offend others. Lian'er, keep this in mind too. It is not that I have just come home and am scolding you. I have truly heard much talk. You must be very careful." Jia Zhen and Jia Lian flushed crimson and only dared assent repeatedly, not daring to argue. Jia Zheng said no more and returned to the Rong-guo House. The servants kowtowed, and the maids and serving women of the inner quarters paid their respects. We need not describe it in detail.

Now to return to Baoyu. The day before, when Jia Zheng asked about Daiyu, Lady Wang had said only that she was ill. Baoyu grieved secretly. When his father allowed him to withdraw, he had already shed many tears on the way back. When he reached his room, Baochai was speaking with Xiren. Baoyu sat alone in the outer room, depressed. Baochai told Xiren to bring tea. She thought he was only worried that his father would test his lessons, so she came to comfort him. Baoyu took the chance to say, "You two sleep first tonight. I want to calm my mind. My memory is very poor now. I often forget what I have said. It will not do for my father to notice. Go and rest. Let Xiren stay with me." Baochai thought this reasonable and went into the inner room to sleep.

Baoyu quietly asked Xiren to sit down and begged her to call Zijuan. He had something to ask her. "Only, when Zijuan sees me, her face and words are full of resentment. You must first explain things clearly for me before she will come." Xiren said, "You said you wanted to calm your mind, and I was glad for you. Why are you thinking of this again? What can you not say tomorrow?" Baoyu said, "Only tonight is free. Tomorrow my father may assign me some task, and there will be no time. Good sister, go and call her quickly." Xiren said, "Without the Second Mistress's order, Zijuan will not come." Baoyu said, "That is why I need you to explain the whole matter for me." Xiren asked, "What should I say?" Baoyu said, "Do you not understand my heart, or Zijuan's heart? It is all for Miss Lin. Speak for me. I am not a heartless, faithless person. Now that they have arranged things, I have instead gained a name for faithlessness."

He quietly pointed toward the inner room. "Marrying Baochai was never my own wish. It was all the Old Ancestor and the others who deceived and arranged it, and drove Cousin Lin to her death. Even if she was to die, she should have let me see her one last time and speak clearly, so that after death she would not resent me. I hear from Third Girl and the others that Cousin Lin still hated me when she died. Zijuan is wholly devoted to her own mistress and hates me to the bone. Do you think I am a man without feeling or righteousness? Qingwen was only a maid and had not done me any great kindness. When she died, I wrote a special memorial for her, and Cousin Lin saw it with her own eyes. Now that Cousin Lin is dead, am I to be less than I was to Qingwen? Now that she is gone, I cannot even properly mourn her. If Cousin Lin knows beneath the springs, will she not hate me even more?"

Xiren said, "If you want to mourn her, go and mourn her yourself. Why ask me?" Baoyu said, "Since my grave illness, I wanted to write a memorial, but now I have no talent left at all. For others, I could write carelessly. For Cousin Lin, not the slightest vulgar word is allowed. I want to call Zijuan and ask how Cousin Lin truly regarded me in her heart. Before I fell ill, I remembered it all clearly. After the illness, it has all become blurred. Cousin Lin was clearly getting better. Why did she suddenly die? When I could not go to see her, what did she say? After she died, I wanted to take something of hers, but the Second Mistress would not let me touch anything. What was the reason?"

Xiren answered, "The Second Mistress only feared you would grieve at the sight of her things. She meant nothing else." Baoyu shook his head, unconvinced. "If she had always kept me in her heart, why did she burn all her poems before she died and leave not one thing for me to remember her by? I also hear that on the day she died, immortal music was heard in the sky. She must have attained the Way and become an immortal. Though I saw the coffin, I always suspect: was it really her inside the coffin?" Xiren said, "You grow more confused the more you speak. When a person is dead, how could they put an empty coffin there?" Baoyu said, "No! Some who become immortals fly up with their bodies. Others shed their mortal flesh and leave. Good sister, go quickly and call Zijuan."

Xiren said, "Even if I tell Zijuan all your heart's words in detail, if she is willing to come, that is well. If she refuses, it will take much talking. Even if she comes, in your presence she may not be willing to speak in detail. In my opinion, wait until the Second Mistress goes out in a couple of days. I will ask her privately and perhaps learn the details. Then I will tell you." Baoyu said, "You are right, but my heart truly suffers."

As they spoke, Sheyue came out and said, "The Second Mistress says it is already the fourth watch. Please come in and sleep, Second Master. Sister Xiren has probably been talking so long she has lost track of the hour." Xiren said, "Indeed. It is time to rest. We can talk tomorrow." Baoyu had no choice. Full of sorrow, he went into the inner room. He leaned close to Xiren's ear and urged, "Tomorrow, do not forget this matter." Xiren smiled and nodded. "I know." Sheyue teased, "What are you two whispering about again? You might as well tell the Second Mistress and have the Second Master go sleep with Xiren, so you can talk all night. We will not interfere." Baoyu waved his hand for her not to talk nonsense. Xiren scolded Sheyue. "Little girl, wagging your tongue again. Tomorrow I will tear your mouth." Then she turned to Baoyu. "It is all your doing, Second Master. We talked until the fourth watch and accomplished nothing." As she spoke, she saw Baoyu back to his room. Each then rested.

That night Baoyu could not sleep at all. The next day he was still thinking of Daiyu's affair. Someone came in and announced, "The relatives and friends have heard that the master has returned home and want to set up a stage and perform plays to welcome him. The master has declined again and again, saying there is no need for plays. The household will prepare a simple banquet and invite relatives and friends for a quiet gathering. It is already set for the day after tomorrow. I came specially to report." As to which guests were invited, the next chapter will tell.