The Widow Jin, Greedy for Gain, Is Humiliated; Doctor Zhang Discusses the Illness and Traces the Root Cause

Now, Jin Rong, having been forced by the others, at Jia Rui's urging, to apologise and kowtow to Qin Zhong, had finally quieted Baoyu. After school broke up, Jin Rong went home, but the more he thought about it, the angrier he became. He muttered to himself, "Qin Zhong is only Jia Rong's brother-in-law—not even a member of the Jia clan—yet he's allowed to study here just like me. He's nothing but a hanger-on, acting so high and mighty just because he's thick with Baoyu. If he had any decency, he'd behave himself, and nobody would say a word. But he's always sneaking around with Baoyu as if everyone else were blind. Today he was trying to hook up with someone else, and I just happened to catch him. Even if it blows up, what do I have to fear?"

His mother, née Hu, heard him grumbling and asked, "What useless quarrel are you picking now? It wasn't easy getting your aunt to plead with that Second Mistress Lian in the west mansion to get you into that school. If it weren't for their help, how could our family afford a tutor? Besides, they provide tea and meals at the school. These two years you've been studying there, we've saved a good deal of money—and you've spent the savings on fine clothes. And if it weren't for that school, you wouldn't have met Master Xue. That Master Xue, whether he gives or not, has helped us to the tune of seventy or eighty taels of silver these past two years. If you stir up trouble and get thrown out, let me tell you—finding another place like that would be harder than climbing to heaven! Just be good, play a bit, and go to sleep—that's the best thing." So Jin Rong swallowed his anger and went to bed. The next day he went to school as usual—but no more of that.

Now his aunt, the wife of Jia Huang—a direct descendant of the Jade generation of the Jia clan—was not as wealthy as the Ning and Rong mansions, as was only natural. The couple lived on a modest estate and regularly paid their respects at the two great mansions, currying favour with Xifeng and You Shi, who often helped them out. That day, the weather being fine and she having nothing to do, Mrs. Jia Huang took an old servant, got into a carriage, and went to visit her sister-in-law and nephew.

During their chat, Jin Rong's mother happened to mention the previous day's ruckus at the school, telling the whole story from beginning to end. Mrs. Huang, hearing this, flared up at once: "Qin Zhong is a relative of the Jia family—so isn't Rong'er also a relative? Everyone is so snobbish! And what fine deeds have they been up to anyway? Even Baoyu has no business taking his side like that. I'll go over to the east mansion, see our Cousin You, and then find Qin Zhong's sister and have her judge this matter." Jin Rong's mother was alarmed and said, "It was my loose tongue—please don't go, Aunt. Don't bother about who's right or wrong. If there's a row, how can he stay at that school? And if he can't, we not only can't afford a tutor, but we'd have even more expenses to support him." Mrs. Huang retorted, "I don't care about all that. Let me have my say and see what happens!" She would not listen to her sister-in-law's pleas; she told her servant to mind the carriage and set off for the Ning Mansion.

Arriving at the Ning Mansion, she entered through the side gate, got down at the small east corner gate, and went in to see You Shi, wife of Jia Zhen. She did not dare put on any airs but greeted her warmly with all due ceremony. After some small talk, she asked, "How is it I haven't seen young Mrs. Rong today?" You Shi said, "She's been unwell lately—her courses have stopped for over two months. We called in doctors, but they said it wasn't pregnancy. In the afternoons she's too tired to move or speak, and her eyesight blurs. I told her not to stand on ceremony—no need to come and pay her morning and evening respects; just rest. If relatives come, I'll handle it. If any elder reproaches her, I'll explain. I even told Rong'er not to upset her or make her angry—just let her rest quietly. Whatever she wants to eat, she can get from me; if I haven't got it, she can ask her aunt Lian. If anything happened to her, you could search with a lantern and not find another daughter-in-law so beautiful and so sweet-tempered. Everyone—relatives and elders alike—adores her. So I've been terribly worried these past few days. And this morning, her brother came to see her. The foolish boy, seeing his sister unwell, shouldn't have bothered her with anything, even if he'd suffered a thousand wrongs—let alone such a trifle. But it seems there was a fight at school yesterday, and some outsider bullied him, and there was even some nasty gossip, which he told her. You know that girl—though she's cheerful and sociable, she's sensitive and takes things to heart; she'll mull over anything for three or five days before letting it go. Her illness comes from just that sort of brooding. Today, hearing that someone bullied her brother, she was both angry and upset—angry at those wicked meddlers stirring up trouble, and upset at her own brother for not studying properly and causing this mess. When she heard the news, she wouldn't even eat breakfast. I went over to comfort her for a while, and then I talked to her brother. I sent him over to the other mansion to find Baoyu, and only after I saw her eat half a bowl of bird's-nest soup did I come back here. Tell me, isn't this enough to break my heart? And now we can't find a good doctor. Every time I think of her illness, I feel as if I'm being pricked with needles. Do you happen to know of any good doctor?"

Mrs. Huang, having listened to all this, had completely forgotten her earlier anger against Qin Keqing; it had vanished into thin air. When You Shi asked if she knew of a good doctor, she quickly replied, "From what I've heard, I've never heard of any good doctor. Judging by what you say, it might still be a pregnancy—better not let anyone treat her rashly. If they mistake the condition, it could be disastrous." You Shi said, "Exactly." Just then Jia Zhen came in, saw Mrs. Huang, and asked You Shi, "Isn't this Mrs. Huang?" Mrs. Huang stepped forward to pay her respects. Jia Zhen told You Shi, "Keep her for a meal before she goes." He then went to the other room. Mrs. Huang had come intending to complain about Qin Zhong bullying her nephew, but now that she heard Qin Keqing was ill, she dared not even mention it. Besides, Jia Zhen and You Shi were treating her well, so her anger turned to goodwill; she chatted a while longer and then went home.

After she left, Jia Zhen came back and sat down, asking You Shi, "What did she have to say today?" You Shi replied, "Nothing much. She did seem a bit put out when she arrived, but after we talked for a while and mentioned our daughter-in-law's illness, she gradually calmed down. Then you invited her to eat, and when she heard how ill the girl was, she didn't feel she could stay long, so she just made some small talk and left—she didn't ask for anything. But now, about our daughter-in-law's illness—you really must find a good doctor to see her, and not let it drag on. The doctors we have now are useless. They just echo whatever they hear, repeating it in flowery language. They're ever so diligent—three or four of them come in turn, five or six times a day to feel her pulse. They consult and write prescriptions, but nothing helps. She's changing her clothes four or five times a day just to receive them—which can't be good for her." Jia Zhen said, "True. The girl is foolish to keep changing—if she catches a chill, it will only make things worse. What do clothes matter? Her health is what counts; even if she wore a new outfit every day, it wouldn't matter. I was just coming to tell you: Feng Ziying came to see me today, and noticing my depressed look, he asked what was wrong. I told him our daughter-in-law had suddenly fallen ill and we couldn't find a good doctor to tell whether it was pregnancy or sickness, and I was worried. He mentioned that he had a tutor in his youth, a Mr. Zhang Youshi, who is extremely learned and deeply versed in medicine, and can even judge life and death. He's come to the capital this year to buy an official rank for his son and is staying at his house. It seems fate has ordained that our daughter-in-law's illness will be cured by him. I've already sent someone with my name-card to invite him. If it's too late today, he'll surely come tomorrow. Feng Ziying even went home to personally beg him to come. Once this Dr. Zhang has seen her, we'll know more."

You Shi was pleased and asked, "The day after tomorrow is the old master's birthday—how shall we manage it?" Jia Zhen said, "I went to pay my respects to Father and invited him back to receive the family's salutations. He said, 'I'm used to peace and quiet—I don't want to be dragged into your world of trouble. If you insist on celebrating my birthday and making me bow to everyone, it would be far better to have someone copy out my annotated Book of Secret Virtues and print it—that would be a hundred times better than having me receive empty courtesies. If the family wants to come in the next couple of days, you just entertain them at home. Don't send me anything, and don't you come either. If you feel uneasy, you may kowtow to me today. If you come the day after tomorrow with a crowd to disturb me, I won't allow it.' He said so much that I dare not go again. Just call Lai Sheng and tell him to prepare a two-day feast." You Shi sent for Jia Rong and told him, "Go and tell Lai Sheng to prepare a two-day feast, according to the old rules, and make it lavish. Then go yourself to the west mansion and invite the Dowager, Lady Xing, Lady Wang, and your Aunt Lian to come and visit. Your father has heard of a good doctor and sent for him—he'll likely come tomorrow. You can tell him all about your wife's illness in detail."

Jia Rong agreed and went out. Just then he met the servant who had been sent to invite Dr. Zhang. The servant reported, "I went to Master Feng's house with the master's name-card to invite the doctor. The doctor said, 'Your Master Feng has already spoken to me. But I've been visiting guests all day and have just returned; I'm too exhausted to feel pulses. Let me rest overnight and I'll come without fail tomorrow.' He also said, 'My medical skills are shallow—I hardly deserve such a recommendation. But since Master Feng and your master insist, I have no choice but to come. Please convey my respects to your master. I dare not accept his name-card.' He returned the card. Please pass this on, young master." Jia Rong went back in and reported to his parents, then went out to instruct Lai Sheng about the feast. Lai Sheng set about the preparations as usual.

The next day at noon, word came that Dr. Zhang had arrived. Jia Zhen invited him into the main hall and seated him. After tea, Jia Zhen said, "Yesterday I learned from Master Feng of your high character, learning, and profound medical knowledge—I am full of admiration." Dr. Zhang replied, "I am but a humble scholar of shallow knowledge. But since Master Feng informed me of your esteemed household's condescension to the learned, and you have summoned me, how dare I not come? Yet I have no real skill—I am doubly ashamed." Jia Zhen said, "Sir, you are too modest. Please come in and examine my daughter-in-law—I rely on your superior insight to set my mind at ease."

So Jia Rong accompanied him inside. When they entered Jia Rong's quarters and saw Qin Keqing, Dr. Zhang said to Jia Rong, "This is your wife?" Jia Rong said, "Yes. Please be seated, and let me describe my wife's illness before you take her pulse." The doctor said, "In my humble opinion, it would be better to take the pulse first. It is my first visit, and I know nothing. But Master Feng insisted I come, so I had to. Let me feel her pulse and see if what I say matches the symptoms; then we can discuss the course of illness and prescribe a suitable remedy. You can decide whether to use it." Jia Rong said, "You are truly brilliant—I regret we have not met sooner. Please feel her pulse and tell us whether it is curable, so my parents may be reassured." The women brought a large pillow and exposed her wrist. Dr. Zhang placed his fingers on her right pulse, steadied his breath, counted the beats, and concentrated for about half a quarter of an hour. Then he switched to the left wrist and repeated the process. After finishing, he said, "Let us step outside."

They went to the outer room and sat down; an old servant brought tea. Jia Rong said, "Please have some tea," and they drank. Then Jia Rong asked, "From the pulse, is it curable or not?" The doctor replied, "Looking at your lady's pulse: the left cun is deep and rapid, the left guan is deep and hidden; the right cun is thin and weak, the right guan is soft and without spirit. Deep and rapid at the left cun indicates a deficiency of heart qi giving rise to fire; deep and hidden at the left guan indicates stagnation of liver qi and blood deficiency; thin and weak at the right cun indicates excessive vacuity of lung qi; soft and spiritless at the right guan indicates the spleen earth is being overcome by liver wood. With heart qi deficient and fire arising, there should be irregular menstruation and sleepless nights. With liver blood deficient and qi stagnant, there must be pain and distension under the ribs, delayed periods, and heat in the chest. With lung qi too weak, there will be dizziness, and spontaneous sweating at the hours of Yin and Mao (3–7 a.m.), feeling as if in a boat. With spleen earth overcome by liver wood, there will be loss of appetite, fatigue, and weakness in the limbs. According to my diagnosis, these symptoms should be present. If anyone takes this pulse as a pregnancy, I would beg to differ." An old maidservant nearby said, "Exactly so. Your diagnosis is like prophecy—we need not even tell you. Several imperial physicians have attended her, but none could speak so precisely. One said it was pregnancy, another said illness, one said it was nothing, another feared the winter solstice—no one could agree. Please, sir, give us a clear indication."

The doctor smiled, "Your lady's condition has been delayed by those doctors. If treatment had begun at the first sign of menstrual irregularity, not only would there be no present trouble, but she would already have recovered. Since the illness has been allowed to reach this stage, it must be her fate. In my view, there is still a three-in-ten chance of cure. After taking my medicine, if she can sleep at night, that will add another two-tenths of hope. From her pulse, I see that your lady is proud, strong-willed, and exceedingly intelligent. But the overly clever often meet with disappointments; and disappointments breed excessive brooding. This illness stems from worry damaging the spleen, with liver wood too exuberant, preventing the menstrual blood from arriving on time. If you ask about her previous cycles, they were never shortened—they must have been prolonged, perhaps by two or three days, sometimes even ten. Is that not so?" The old servant said, "Indeed—they were never shortened, but often delayed by two or three days, and sometimes up to ten." The doctor said, "Excellent! That is the root of the illness. If she had taken medicines to nourish the heart and regulate the menses earlier, it would never have come to this. Now it is clearly a case of water deficiency and wood excess. We shall see what the medicine can do." He then wrote out a prescription and handed it to Jia Rong:

Decoction to Augment Qi, Nourish Glory, Supplement the Spleen, and Harmonize the Liver

Ginseng – 2 qian

Atractylodes (stir-fried with earth) – 2 qian

Poria – 3 qian

Rehmannia (prepared) – 4 qian

Angelica sinensis (washed in wine) – 2 qian

White peony root (stir-fried) – 2 qian

Ligusticum – 1.5 qian

Astragalus – 3 qian

Cyperus (prepared with vinegar) – 2 qian

Bupleurum – 8 fen

Chinese yam (stir-fried) – 2 qian

Genuine donkey-hide gelatin (stir-fried with clam powder) – 2 qian

Corydalis (stir-fried in wine) – 1.5 qian

Liquorice (prepared) – 8 fen

Add: seven lotus seeds (core removed) and two red dates as a guide.

Jia Rong read it and said, "Very astute. I must ask, sir—will this disease ultimately endanger her life?" The doctor smiled, "You are a man of understanding. An illness that has reached this stage does not develop overnight. Whether this medicine works depends on the affinity of fate. In my humble opinion, she will be safe through this winter—beyond that, if she passes the Spring Equinox, we may hope for a full recovery." Jia Rong, being intelligent, did not press further.

He then saw the doctor out and showed the prescription and diagnosis to Jia Zhen, repeating everything the doctor had said. You Shi said to Jia Zhen, "I've never heard a doctor speak so clearly—the medicine must be good." Jia Zhen said, "He's not one of those hack doctors making a living. Feng Ziying, being close to us, went to great trouble to get him. Since we have such a man, perhaps our daughter-in-law will recover. The prescription calls for ginseng—use that good pound we bought the other day." Jia Rong then went out to have the medicine prepared for Qin Keqing. Whether it took effect or not, we shall hear in the next chapter.