A Dream of Red Mansion

by Cao Xueqin

  Timid Jia Lan intervened, saying this was none of their business. But Jia Jun paid no attention. Since his inkstone was pinned down he caught up his satchel and hurled it at the offender. Being small and weak, he missed his target. The satchel landed with a tremendous crash in front of Baoyu and Qin Zhong, scattering books, paper, brushes and ink over their desk and smashing Baoyu’s teacup so that tea poured all over it too.

  Jia Jun launched himself at the boy who had thrown the inkstone, while Jin Rong caught up a bamboo pole and played havoc with it in that narrow crowded room.

  Mingyan was the first to be hit. “What are you waiting for?” he roared to Baoyu’s other pages Chuyao, Saohong and Moyu, all of whom were ready for mischief.

  “Sons of bitches!” they shouted. “They’re using weapons now.”

  In they charged, Moyu armed with a door bar, the other two brandishing whips.

  Jia Rui tried desperately to hold back or persuade the contendants in turn. But no one listened to him, the place was a bedlam. Some boys threw themselves eagerly into the scrimmage, punching those who could not hit back, the more timid shrank aside, others stood on their desks clapping and laughing wildly as they urged the combatants on. The school was like a seething cauldron.

  Li Gui and the servants outside hearing this uproar hurried in to stop the fight. When they asked how it had started, everyone answered at once, each blaming another. With an oath Li Gui drove Mingyan and the rascals out.

  Qin Zhong had been hit on the head and bruised by Jin Rong’s pole, and Baoyu was rubbing the place with his coat lapel. Now that order had been restored he told Li Gui:

  “Collect my books and bring round my horse. I’m going to report this to the principal. They insulted us gratuitously, but when we complained quite properly to Mr. Jia Rui he laid the blame on us. He let them abuse us and actually encouraged them to beat us. Mingyan seeing us bullied naturally took our side, but then they ganged up to beat him. They’ve even broken open Qin Zhong’s head. How can we go on studying here after this?”

  Li Gui begged him not to be hasty. “It would look very inconsiderate to disturb the principal over such a little thing when he’s busy. Trouble should be settled on the spot, I say. There’s no need to go and disturb the old gentleman. It’s Mr. Jia Rui who’s to blame. You’re in charge here, sir, in the old gentleman’s absence. If anyone misbehaves, you should punish him. How could you let them get so out of hand?”

  “I did tell them to stop,” said Jia Rui. “But no one paid any attention.”

  “You mustn’t mind if I speak frankly, sir,” rejoined Li Gui. “It’s because your own conduct leaves much to be desired that these boys don’t obey you. So if this business comes to the principal’s ears, it will go hard with you. Hurry up and think of a way to hush it up.”

  “I won’t have it hushed up,” declared Baoyu. “I’m going to report it.”

  “I’m not coming here any more,” sobbed Qin Zhong, “If Jin Rong is allowed to stay.”

  “What an idea!” cried Baoyu. “Why should we have to keep away because they come? I’m going to tell everyone and have him expelled.” He asked Li Gui to which branch of the family Jin Rong was related.

  Li Gui thought for a moment, then said, “Better not ask. If I tell you, it will only cause bad feeling among relatives.”

  “He’s the nephew of Mrs. Jia Huang of the East Lane,” called Mingyan through the window. “I don’t know how he had the nerve to beard us. Mrs. Jia Huang is his aunt on the father’s side. She’s a sponger who sucks up to people and goes down on her knees to Madam Lian for things to pawn. How can we respect a ‘mistress’ like that?”

  “Shut up, you dirty bugger. Don’t talk such rot,” roared Li Gui.

  “So that’s who he is!” said Baoyu scornfully. “Cousin Jia Huang’s nephew. I shall go and see her about this.”

  He ordered Mingyan to come in and wrap up his books.

  The page did so, saying exultantly, “Why go yourself, sir? Let me go and tell her the old lady wants her. I’ll hire a carriage to bring her, and you can question her in the Lady Dowager’s presence. Wouldn’t that save trouble?”

  “Do you want to die?” shouted Li Gui. “Just wait, I’ll give you such a thrashing when we get back. Then I’ll tell our master and mistress that you were the one who put Baoyu up to this. I’ve had trouble enough getting him halfway calmed down, and here you go again. You started this rumpus, but instead of trying to smooth things over you’re adding fuel to the fire.”

  Mingyan dared say no more then. And Jia Rui, afraid of being incriminated if this went any further, had to pocket his grievance and ask Qin Zhong and Baoyu to forget it.

  After holding out for some time Baoyu said, “All right, I won’t tell if Jin Rong apologizes.”

  At first Jin Rong refused. But Jia Rui put pressure on him, and Li Gui and the others joined in.

  “You started this,” Li Gui pointed out. “It’s up to you to end it.”

  Under pressure from all sides, Jin Rong bowed to Qin Zhong. But Baoyu would not be satisfied with anything less than a full kowtow.

  Jia Rui, anxious to smooth things over, urged Jin Rong softly, “Remember the proverb ‘A murderer can only lose his head.’ Since you began this you must humble yourself a little. Once you’ve kowtowed, that will be the end of it.”

  So at last Jin Rong stepped forward and kowtowed to Qin Zhong.

  To know what followed, read the next chapter.

  Chapter 10

  Widow Jin Pockets Her Pride Because of Self-Interest

  Dr. Zhang Diagnoses Keqing’s Illness

  With heavy pressure on him and orders from Jia Rui to apologize, Jin Rong had to appease Baoyu by kowtowing to Qin Zhong. Then school was dismissed and he went home, where the more he brooded the angrier he grew.

  “That flunkey Qin Zhong is only Jia Rong’s brother-in-law, not a son or grandson of the Jia family,” he fumed. “He’s only in the school on sufferance, just as I am. But on the strength of his friendship with Baoyu he looks down on everyone else. If he at least behaved decently no one would mind; but the two of them must think the rest of us are blind, the way they carry on. Well, I caught him today making up to someone else, so I needn’t be afraid even if the whole thing comes out.”

  “What scrape are you in now?” asked his mother, nee Hu, when she heard this muttering “I had to rope in your aunt and put her to no end of trouble to beg Madam Xifeng in the West Mansion to get you this place in the family school. Where would we be if not for their help? We couldn’t afford a tutor. Besides, you get free meals there, don’t you? That’s meant a great saving on your board these last two years. It’s fitted you out in all those smart clothes you’re so fond of. It was through the school, too, that you met Mr. Xue who’s helped us this last year or so to the tune of seventy or eighty taels of silver at least. If you’re expelled because of this row, don’t expect me to find another school like this. I can tell you, that would be harder than climbing up to heaven. Just amuse yourself quietly now before going to bed. That would be much better.”

  Jin Rong had to swallow his anger and hold his tongue, and very soon he turned in. The next day be went back to school as if nothing had happened.

  Now Jin Rong’s paternal aunt had married Jia Huang of that generation of the family which used the “jade” (yu) radical in personal names. Needless to say, not all members of the clan were as wealthy as those in the Ning and Rong Mansions. Jia Huang and his wife had very slender means and were only able to live as they did by keeping on good terms with both households and by making up to Xifeng and Madam You, who often helped them out.

  Since today was fine and she had nothing to do, Jia Huang’s wife, nee Jin, accompanied by a woman-servant, came over by carriage to see her widowed sister-in-law and nephew.

  In the course of conversation Jin Rong’s mother described the quarrel in the school the previous day, giving a detailed account of the whole affair. Aunt Huang immediately flew into a passion
.

  “Our boy Rong is just as much a relative of the Jia family as that young fool Qin Zhong,” she cried. “How can some people suck up like that to the rich? Especially when they behave so disgracefully. As for Baoyu, he’s no call to make such a favourite of him. I’m going to the East Mansion to see Madam You, then I’ll tell Qin Zhong’s sister about this and see what she has to say.”

  “I should never have told you, sister.” Jin Rong’s mother was frantic. “For goodness’ sake don’t say anything to them. Never mind who’s right and who’s wrong. If trouble came of it my boy would lose his place. And apart from the fact that we couldn’t afford a tutor we’d have to spend a lot more on his food and clothes.”

  “Never mind that!” retorted Aunt Huang. “Let me tell them the facts and we’ll see what they have to say.”

  Ignoring the widow’s protests, she called for her carriage and drove to the Ning Mansion, alighting at the small gate on the east side and going in on foot to see Madam You.

  Not daring to vent her anger, she made polite conversation for a while, then asked, “Why don’t I see Madam Rong today?”

  “I don’t know what the matter is,” said Madam You. “But she’s missed her periods for two months and more, yet the doctors say she’s not expecting. She’s too tired to move or talk by the afternoon nowadays, and she has dizzy spells. I told her, ‘Don’t trouble to pay your respects here mornings and evenings, just have a good rest. If relatives call I’ll receive them. And if the old folk wonder at your absence, I’ll make apologies for you.’ I told Rong not to let anyone tire or annoy her, so that she can rest quietly until she’s better. ‘If she fancies anything to eat, come to me for it,’ I said. ‘If we don’t have it you can ask Xifeng. If anything were to happen to her, you’d never find another wife with her good looks and sweet temper, not if you were to search around with a lantern.’ She’s quite won the hearts of the old folk and all our relations. So I’ve been most dreadfully worried the last few days.

  “But then her brother had to come and see her this morning. He’s too young to know any better, but when he saw she was ill he shouldn’t have troubled her with his affairs, not to say a trifle like this. Even if he was treated unfairly, he shouldn’t have told her. They had a fight, you know, in school yesterday. Some other boy bullied him and there was dirty talk—he repeated it all to her. You know how she is. For all she’s so pleasant and so capable, she’s sensitive and takes everything to heart. She’ll brood over the least little thing for days on end. It’s this habit of worrying that’s made her ill. When she heard today that someone had picked on her brother, it upset her and made her angry. Angry with those dirty dogs who cause trouble and gossip; upset because Qin Zhong doesn’t study hard or give his mind to his books, and that’s how this trouble started. Because of this, she wouldn’t touch any breakfast.

  “When word of this reached me I went over to soothe her. I gave her brother a talking-to, then packed him off to Baoyu in the other mansion. I didn’t come back till I’d seen her take half a bowl of bird’s-nest soup. You can’t imagine how worried I am, sister. We haven’t got any good doctors nowadays, either. This illness is keeping me on tenterhooks. Do you know of any good doctor?”

  Aunt Huang’s furious determination while with her sister-in-law to have it out with Keqing had, during this recital, been scared away into the Sea of Jave.

  “We’ve been hoping to hear of some good doctors, but so far we don’t know of any,” she replied. “But judging by what you tell me, this may still mean she’s pregnant. Don’t let anyone give her the wrong medicine, though. That could be dangerous.”

  “Just what I think,” agreed Madam You.

  At this point Jia Zhen came in. Seeing Jia Huang’s wife he inquired, “Is this Mrs. Huang?”

  She stepped forward to greet him, and before returning to his room he urged his wife to keep her to a meal.

  Aunt Huang had come there to complain about Qin Zhong’s treatment of her nephew, but after hearing of Keqing’s illness she hadn’t the courage to mention this, much less to complain. Moreover Jia Zhen’s and Madam You’s kind reception had transformed her indignation into pleasure. She chatted a little longer, then took her leave. Once she had gone, Jia Zhen came in and sat down. “What business brought her here today?” he asked. “She didn’t seem to have any,” replied his wife. “She looked rather put out when she arrived but she calmed down little by little as I told her about our daughter-in-law’s illness. Because of that she couldn’t very well stop to a meal, as you suggested. She left quite soon without making any requests.

  “But to get back to our daughter-in-law, you really must find a good doctor for her without any more delay. These that have been attending her are useless. They just listen to what we tell them and then dress it up in high-sounding language. They go to a lot of trouble, to be sure, three or four of them coming several times a day to feel her pulse in turn. After consulting together they write their prescriptions, but the medicine hasn’t done her the least bit of good. In fact, it’s bad for a patient to have to change her clothes four or five times a day and sit up to see the doctor.”

  “Why should the silly child keep changing?” asked Jia Zhen. “If she caught cold that would be even worse. This will never do. The finest clothes are nothing compared with her health. She can wear new ones every day if it comes to that.

  “What I was going to tell you is that Feng Ziying called just now. He asked why I looked so worried. I told him I was upset because our daughter-in-law isn’t well but we can’t find a good doctor to tell whether she’s ill or pregnant, and whether there’s any danger or not. Well, Feng knows a doctor named Zhang Youshi who was his childhood tutor, a very learned man with a comprehensive knowledge of medicine, and an excellent diagnostician. He’s come to the capital this year to purchase an official rank for his son, and he’s staying with Feng. Fate may have meant him to cure our daughter-in-law. You never can tell. I’ve sent a servant with my card to invite him. It may be too late today, but I’m sure he’ll come tomorrow. Especially as Feng Ziying promised to ask him as soon as he reached home. Let’s wait, then, till this Dr. Zhang has seen her.”

  Madam You cheered up at this. “And how are we to celebrate your father’s birthday the day after tomorrow?”

  “I’ve just been to pay my respects to him,” answered Jia Zhen. “I invited him here to receive congratulations from the whole family, but he said, ‘I’m used to a peaceful life and don’t want to be disturbed by all the commotion in your house. Of course, you’re inviting me to go and have everyone kowtow to me because it’s my birthday, but it would be a hundred times more to my liking if you had my annotated ‘ Rewards and Punishments’ neatly copied out and printed. Suppose you entertain the two families for me at home the day after tomorrow instead of having them come here. Don’t send me any presents either. In fact, there’s no need for you to come yourself the day after tomorrow. You can kowtow to me now, if that will make you feel better. If you bring a great crowd to disturb me on my birthday, I shall be very displeased.’

  “Since he made such a point of this, I shan’t venture to go again. You had better order Lai Sheng to arrange for the two days’ banqueting. It must be handsomely done. You can go to the West Mansion to deliver invitations in person to the old lady, Lady Xing, lady Wang and Xifeng.”

  As he was saying this, Jia Rong came in to pay his respects, and Madam You told him what her husband had said.

  “Your father has heard today of a good doctor,” she added. “We’ve sent to ask him round and he should be coming tomorrow. You’ll have to tell him all your wife’s symptoms.”

  Her son assented and had just withdrawn when he met the page sent to invite Dr. Zhang.

  “I’ve been to Mr. Feng’s house with His Lordship’s card,” said the page. “The doctor said Mr. Feng had just told him about it, but he was so exhausted after a whole round of visits that even if he came now he couldn’t take the pulse. He’ll come tomorrow after a
good night’s rest. He added, ‘I know very little about medicine and really shouldn’t presume to take up this responsibility, but since Mr. Feng has done me the honour of recommending me to your master I mustn’t decline. Go and give your master this message. As for His Lordship’s card, I really can’t presume to keep it.’ So I’ve brought it back. Will you please pass on this message for me, sir?”

  Jia Rong went back to tell his parents this, after which he sent for Lai Sheng to instruct him to prepare the two days’ feast. And the steward went off to make his preparations.

  The nest day at noon the doctor was announced. Jia Zhen conducted him into the reception hall and made him take a seat. When they had drunk tea he broached the subject, saying, “Yesterday I was overwhelmed with admiration by all Mr. Feng told me of your character, learning and profound knowledge of medicine, sir.”

  “I am simply an ignorant layman,” replied Dr. Zhang. “But when I heard yesterday from Mr. Feng that Your Lordship’s family is considerate to ordinary scholars and had condescended to send for me, how could I disobey your orders? I am ashamed, though, that I have no real learning.”

  “You are too modest, sir. May I trouble you to have a look at my daughter-in-law? I am relying on your superior knowledge to relieve our anxiety.”

  Jia Rong accompanied the doctor to Keqing’s bedside.

  “Is this your worthy wife?” asked Dr. Zhang.

  “Yes, sir,” said Jia Rong. “Do sit down! Would you like me to describe her symptoms to you before you take the pulse?”

  “May I suggest that I take her pulse before you enlighten me?” countered the doctor. “This is my first visit to your honourable mansion, and being quite unqualified I would not have come but for Mr. Feng’s insistence. Let me take her pulse, and you may gauge the correctness of my diagnosis before you describe her condition recently. Then we can devise an efficacious prescription and submit it to the discretion of His Lordship.”