Unexpectedly, Feng Jie poured vinegar and was overjoyed. Ping'er adjusted her makeup

When the company was watching The Story of the Thorn Hairpin, Baoyu sat with his sisters and cousins. At the scene “The Male Sacrifice,” Daiyu said to Baochai, “Wang Shipeng is really unreasonable. He could have made an offering anywhere. Why must he go to the river? As the saying goes, ‘Seeing a thing reminds one of the person.’ All water in the world comes from the same source. He could have scooped up a bowl anywhere and wept over it, and his feelings would have been expressed.” Baochai made no reply. Baoyu turned to ask for warm wine to toast Xifeng.

Grandmother Jia had said that today must be different; Xifeng was to enjoy herself to the full. She herself was too lazy to sit at table, and lay on the couch in the inner room with Aunt Xue, watching the play, with a few of her favourite dishes on a small table, eating and talking as she pleased. She gave her two tables of refreshments to the maids and serving-women who had no seats, telling them to sit on the verandah outside and eat and drink without ceremony. Lady Wang and Lady Xing sat at a high table on the floor, while the girls sat at tables outside. Grandmother Jia repeatedly told You-shi and the others to seat Xifeng in the place of honour and entertain her well, for she had worked hard all year. You-shi agreed, but said laughingly that Xifeng was not used to the seat of honour and would not drink. Grandmother Jia said she would go herself. Xifeng came in and said she had already drunk several cups. Grandmother Jia told You-shi to pull her out, seat her, and toast her in turn. You-shi did so, pouring a cup and saying, “All year you have been filial to the old lady, the ladies, and me. I have nothing to give you but this cup. Drink it from my hand.” Xifeng said, “If you really want to honour me, kneel down and I will drink.” You-shi laughed and said, “You forget who you are! Today is a rare occasion. After tomorrow, who knows if we shall have another like it? Let us fill her up.” Xifeng had to drink two cups. Then the girls came, and she had to take a sip from each. Old Nurse Lai and the other old servants came to toast her. She drank two more. Yuanyang and the other maids came. Xifeng begged for mercy, but Yuanyang teased her, saying she was putting on airs. Xifeng caught her and drank a full cup. Yuanyang went away laughing.

Xifeng felt the wine rising and her heart pounding. She wanted to go home and rest. When the variety show began, she told You-shi she was going to wash her face. You-shi nodded. Xifeng slipped away. Ping’er noticed and followed her. As they reached the passage, a maid from Xifeng’s room ran off. Xifeng called her. The maid pretended not to hear, but Ping’er called too, and she returned. Xifeng went into the passage, closed the doors, sat on the steps, and made the maid kneel. She ordered Ping’er to call two boys from the inner gate with ropes and whips. The maid kowtowed and begged. Xifeng asked why she ran when she saw her. The maid said she had not seen her and was worried about the room. Xifeng slapped her twice, making her cheeks swell. Ping’er urged Xifeng to be careful of her hand. Xifeng told Ping’er to slap her and ask why she ran. The maid still argued, but when Xifeng threatened to burn her mouth with a hot iron, she cried and said, “Master Lian is at home. He sent me to watch for you and to let him know when you left. I did not expect you to come so soon.” Xifeng saw there was more. She questioned her, threatening to cut her flesh. She pulled a hairpin from her hair and jabbed the maid’s mouth. The maid begged her not to tell. She said Jia Lian had come home, slept, and woke up. He sent someone to see if Xifeng was still at the feast. Then he opened a chest, took two pieces of silver, two hairpins, and two lengths of silk, and sent them secretly to Bao Er’s wife, asking her to come. She accepted and came to their room. Jia Lian told the maid to watch for Xifeng. The maid knew no more.

Xifeng was so angry she felt weak. She stood up and went home. At the gate, another maid ran off. Xifeng called her by name. The maid, seeing she could not escape, came out and said she was just going to tell her. She repeated the same story. Xifeng spat at her and slapped her. Then she crept to the window and listened. Inside, she heard laughter. The woman said, “When will your hell-cat wife die? That would be good.” Jia Lian said, “If she died and I married another, it would be the same.” The woman said, “If she died, you could make Ping’er your wife. That might be better.” Jia Lian said, “Now she won’t even let me touch Ping’er. Ping’er has grievances she dare not speak. Why must I be cursed with a she-devil?” Xifeng was trembling with rage. Hearing them praise Ping’er, she suspected Ping’er had also complained behind her back. The wine rose in her. Without thinking, she turned and slapped Ping’er twice, kicked open the door, and rushed in. She seized Bao Er’s wife and beat her. Afraid Jia Lian would escape, she blocked the door and cursed, “You slut! You seduce your master and then want to kill his wife! Ping’er, come here! You and this adulterous pair are in league against me, and you deceive me to my face!” She beat Ping’er again. Ping’er, unjustly accused, wept and said, “You do these shameless things, why drag me in?” She also fought with Bao Er’s wife. Jia Lian, drunk and caught off guard, lost his head. When he saw Ping’er fighting too, his drunken anger rose. He kicked Ping’er and cursed, “You bitch! You dare strike people!” Ping’er, afraid, stopped and cried, “You talk behind her back, why involve me?” Xifeng, seeing Ping’er fear Jia Lian, grew angrier and beat Ping’er, ordering her to hit Bao Er’s wife. Ping’er ran out to find a knife to kill herself. The women and maids outside stopped her. Xifeng, seeing Ping’er about to die, threw herself into Jia Lian’s arms and cried, “You are all in league to harm me. You have been overheard, and now you try to frighten me. Kill me too!” Jia Lian, furious, drew a sword from the wall and said, “No need to seek death. I am angry too. I will kill you all and pay with my life. Then we shall all be clean.” As the uproar continued, You-shi and others arrived. Jia Lian, seeing them, pretended to be more drunk and brandished the sword, threatening to kill Xifeng. Xifeng, seeing people, stopped her violent behaviour and ran weeping to Grandmother Jia.

The play had ended. Xifeng ran to Grandmother Jia, threw herself into her arms, and cried, “Grandmother, save me! Jia Lian wants to kill me!” Grandmother Jia, Lady Xing, Lady Wang and the others asked what had happened. Xifeng wept and said, “I went home to change, and found Jia Lian talking with someone. I thought it was a guest and dared not go in. I listened at the window. It was Bao Er’s wife. They were plotting to poison me and make Ping’er his wife. I was angry and dared not quarrel with him, so I struck Ping’er and asked why she wanted to harm me. He was ashamed and wanted to kill me.” Grandmother Jia and the others believed her and said, “This is too much! Bring that low creature here!” Just then Jia Lian came with a sword, followed by many people. Relying on Grandmother Jia’s love, he made a scene. Lady Xing and Lady Wang stopped him and scolded him. Jia Lian said, “It is all Grandmother’s fault for spoiling her. She even scolds me!” Lady Xing seized the sword and ordered him out. Jia Lian continued to talk nonsense. Grandmother Jia said angrily, “I see you have no respect for us. Send for his father!” Hearing this, Jia Lian staggered out and went to the outer study.

Lady Xing and Lady Wang also scolded Xifeng. Grandmother Jia laughed and said, “What is so serious? Young people are like hungry cats. They cannot always be good. Everyone has gone through this. It is my fault. She drank too much and became jealous.” Everyone laughed. Grandmother Jia said, “Do not worry. Tomorrow I will make him apologize. Do not go and shame him today.” She then scolded Ping’er for being wicked. You-shi and the others said Ping’er was not at fault; Xifeng had taken her anger out on her. Grandmother Jia said, “So that is it. The child did not seem like a schemer. Poor thing, she suffered for nothing.” She called Hupo and told her to tell Ping’er that she knew she had been wronged, and that tomorrow she would make Xifeng apologize. Today, since it was her mistress’s birthday, Ping’er was not to make a scene.

Ping’er had already been taken by Li Wan into the Garden. She was weeping bitterly. Baochai comforted her, saying she was sensible and Xifeng had always treated her well; today she had drunk too much. If she did not vent her anger on Ping’er, on whom would she? Ping’er should not feel too wronged. Then Hupo came and repeated Grandmother Jia’s words. Ping’er felt better and did not go to the front. Baochai and the others rested, then went to see Grandmother Jia and Xifeng.

Baoyu invited Ping’er to Happy Red Court. Xiren welcomed her and said she had wanted to invite her earlier but the others had. Ping’er thanked her. She said, “How did this happen? I suffered for no reason.” Xiren said Xifeng had always treated her well; it was only a moment of anger. Ping’er said Xifeng was not to blame, but the slut had caused it, and Jia Lian had struck her. She wept again. Baoyu comforted her, saying he would apologize for the two of them. Ping’er laughed and asked what it had to do with him. Baoyu said brothers and sisters are all one; if they offended someone, he should apologize. He noticed her new clothes were stained, and offered her Xiren’s clothes. He told the maids to bring water and heat an iron. Ping’er had heard that Baoyu was attentive to girls. Baoyu had avoided her because she was Jia Lian’s concubine and Xifeng’s confidante, but he had often regretted not being able to serve her. Now Ping’er thought he was indeed considerate. Xiren opened a chest and gave her two dresses. Ping’er changed and washed. Baoyu advised her to put on makeup, otherwise it would look as if she were angry with Xifeng, and it was Xifeng’s birthday, and Grandmother Jia had sent someone to comfort her. Ping’er agreed. She looked for powder but could not find any. Baoyu opened a porcelain box containing ten jade hairpin sticks of powder and gave her one. He said it was not lead powder but made from mirabilis seeds and spices. Ping’er found it light, white, red, fragrant, and easy to spread. Then he showed her a small white jade box of rouge, like rose paste. He said market rouge was unclean and thin; this was made from the finest rouge, strained, mixed with flower dew, and steamed. She should take a little with a fine hairpin, mix it with water, put it on her lips, and use the rest on her cheeks. Ping’er did so and looked exceptionally bright and fragrant. Baoyu also cut a double orchid from a pot and pinned it in her hair. Then Li Wan sent for him, and he hurried away.

Baoyu had never been able to do anything for Ping’er, and she was a clever and beautiful girl, unlike the common sort. He had always regretted it. Today was Jinchuan’s birthday, so he had been sad all day. Then this affair had given him a chance to do something for Ping’er, an unexpected pleasure. He lay on the bed, happy. Then he thought that Jia Lian only knew sensual pleasure and did not know how to cherish women. He thought of Ping’er, who had no parents or siblings, serving Jia Lian and Xifeng alone. With Jia Lian’s vulgarity and Xifeng’s tyranny, she managed to keep things smooth, yet today she had been abused. Her fate was even worse than Daiyu’s. He wept. Seeing no one in the room, he shed tears. He got up, saw the clothes he had sprayed with wine were half dry, and ironed and folded them. He saw her handkerchief left behind, stained with tears, and washed it and hung it up. He was both happy and sad. After a while, he went to Rice Village, chatted, and returned after lamps were lit.

Ping’er spent the night with Li Wan. Xifeng stayed with Grandmother Jia. Jia Lian returned to his room, found it cold and deserted, and slept alone. The next day he regretted yesterday. Lady Xing, remembering Jia Lian had been drunk, came early and called him to Grandmother Jia. Jia Lian knelt before Grandmother Jia. She asked what was wrong. He smiled and said he had been drunk and had disturbed her, and had come to apologize. Grandmother Jia spat at him and scolded him for beating his wife. She said Xifeng was like a queen, but he had frightened her. She asked what would have happened if she had not intervened. Jia Lian did not dare argue and admitted fault. Grandmother Jia said Xifeng and Ping’er were both beauties, yet he was not satisfied and brought dirty women home. He had beaten his wife and his concubine for a slut. She told him to apologize to Xifeng and take her home, or else leave. Jia Lian saw Xifeng standing there, unpainted, eyes swollen, looking pale and pitiable. He thought it best to apologize. He smiled and said he would obey, though it would spoil her more. Grandmother Jia said Xifeng was most proper and would not offend anyone. If she did, she would support him. Jia Lian got up, bowed to Xifeng, and said, “It was my fault. Please forgive me, Second Sister.” Everyone laughed. Grandmother Jia told Xifeng not to be angry. She sent for Ping’er and told Xifeng and Jia Lian to comfort her. Jia Lian, seeing Ping’er, forgot himself. He went to her and said, “You suffered yesterday. It was all my fault. Your mistress offended you because of me. I apologize for her too.” He bowed, making Grandmother Jia and Xifeng laugh. Grandmother Jia told Xifeng to comfort Ping’er. Ping’er knelt and said, “It was your birthday, and I made you angry. I deserve to die.” Xifeng, already ashamed of her behaviour, helped her up and wept. Ping’er said, “I have served you for years, and you never touched me. Yesterday you beat me, but I do not blame you. It was that slut’s fault.” She wept too. Grandmother Jia sent them back to their room, saying anyone who mentioned it again would be beaten.

The three kowtowed to Grandmother Jia, Lady Xing, and Lady Wang, and the old nurses took them back. In their room, Xifeng said, “How am I like a hell-cat or a she-devil? That slut cursed me to death, and you helped her. I have been good for a thousand days, but one bad day has made me worse than a slut. How can I face life?” She wept. Jia Lian said, “Are you not satisfied? Think who was more at fault yesterday. Today I knelt and apologized before everyone. You have won enough face. If you keep nagging, do you want me to kneel again? It is not good to be too wilful.” Xifeng had nothing to say. Ping’er laughed. Jia Lian laughed too and said, “Now you are friends again. I can do nothing with you.”

Just then a woman came and said, “Bao Er’s wife has hanged herself.” Jia Lian and Xifeng were startled. Xifeng put on a bold face and said, “So she is dead. What is there to be surprised at?” Lin Zhixiao’s wife came and told Xifeng secretly that Bao Er’s wife’s family wanted to sue. Xifeng laughed and said, “Good! I was just thinking of going to court.” Lin Zhixiao’s wife said she had persuaded and frightened them and offered money, and they had agreed. Xifeng said, “I will not give a penny. Let them sue. Do not persuade or frighten them. If they fail, I will accuse them of blackmail.” Lin Zhixiao’s wife was in a dilemma. Jia Lian winked at her, and she understood. Jia Lian said he would go and see. Xifeng said, “Do not give them money.” Jia Lian went out and discussed with Lin Zhixiao. They offered two hundred taels for the funeral. Jia Lian, afraid of trouble, sent someone to Wang Ziteng to get some official runners and coroners to help with the funeral. The family, seeing this, dared not make trouble. Jia Lian told Lin Zhixiao to put the two hundred taels in the current accounts and cover it up. He also gave Bao Er some silver privately and comforted him, saying he would find him a good wife later. Bao Er, having face and money, was satisfied and continued to serve Jia Lian.

Xifeng was uneasy but pretended not to care. When no one was in the room, she pulled Ping’er and said, “I was drunk yesterday. Do not resent me. Let me see where you were hurt.” Ping’er said, “It was not serious.” Just then the ladies and girls came in. What happened next will be told in the next chapter.