A Dream of Red Mansion

by Cao Xueqin

  Hearing this, all the pages scampered off. Jia Yun went into the study and took a seat.

  “Has Master Bao been here today?” he asked.

  “No, he hasn’t. If you want to talk to him, I’ll scout round and find out his whereabouts for you.” Beiming went out.

  For the time it takes for a meal Jia Yun inspected the calligraphy, paintings and curios. Then, as Beiming had not returned, he looked round for the other pages; but they had all gone off to amuse themselves. He was feeling put out and bored when a sweet voice just outside the door called:

  “Brother!”

  Looking out he discovered a maid of sixteen or seventeen, a slender, neat, clever-looking girl. She was shrinking back at sight of Jia Yun when Beiming returned.

  “Good,” he said. “I was looking for a messenger.”

  Jia Yun walked out to question the page, who told him:

  “I waited for a long time, but nobody came out. This is one of the girls from Happy Red Court.” He turned to her. “Be a good girl and tell him, will you, that the Second Master from the back lane has called.”

  On learning that Jia Yun belonged to her masters’ clan, the maid did not avoid him as she had before but shot him one or two penetrating glances.

  “Never mind about the back lane,” he joked. “Just tell him Yun has come.”

  The girl gave a faint smile.

  “If you please, sir, I think you’d better go home and come back tomorrow, I’ll tell him this evening if I have a chance.”

  “What do you mean?” asked Beiming.

  “He missed his nap this afternoon, so he’s sure to dine early and won’t be coming here this evening. Are you going to make this gentleman wait and go hungry? He’d much better go home now and come back tomorrow. Because even if someone promised to take a message, he mightn’t deliver it.”

  The girl spoke so concisely and prettily that Jia Yun wanted to ask her name. But as she worked for Baoyu he thought better of it, simply remarking:

  “Right you are. I’ll come tomorrow.”

  Beiming urged him to have a cup of tea before leaving.

  “No thanks,” said Jia Yun. “I have some other business.” Walking off as he spoke, he looked back at the girl still standing there, and then made his way home.

  The next day Jia Yun went back. In front of the main gate he ran into Xifeng on her way to the other house to pay her respects. She had just got into her carriage, but at sight of Jia Yun she ordered a servant to stop him and called to him with a smile through the carriage window:

  “You’ve got a nerve, Yun, playing that trick on me! I see now why you gave me that present. You had a favour to ask. Yesterday your uncle told me you’d already approached him.”

  “Please don’t bring that up, aunt,” he pleaded, smiling. “I’m sorry I ever asked him. If I’d know how things stood I’d have come to you in the first place, and it would all have been settled long ago. I didn’t know it was no use appealing to uncle.”

  Xifeng laughed.

  “No wonder! So it was after failing with him that you came to me yesterday.”

  “That’s not fair, aunt. I had no such idea in my mind. If I had, wouldn’t I have appealed to you yesterday? But since you know about it now, I’ll bypass uncle and beg you, aunt, to show me some kindness.”

  “What a roundabout way of doing things!” She smiled sarcastically. “You make it hard for me. If you’d told me earlier, this little business wouldn’t have taken so long. Some trees and flowers are to be planted in the Garden, and I was looking for someone to put in charge. If you’d spoken before, it could have been fixed up some time ago.”

  “Well, you can put me in charge, aunt.”

  Xifeng thought for a moment.

  “I think better not. Suppose we wait until next New Year and give you the bigger job of buying fireworks and lanterns?”

  “Let me have this job first, dear aunt. If I do all right in this, you can give me the other later.”

  “You do look ahead, don’t you?” She chuckled. “All right. But I wouldn’t have bothered if your uncle hadn’t put in a word for you. I shall be back after breakfast, so come about noon for the money and you can start your planting the day after tomorrow.”

  She ordered the servants to start the carriage and left.

  Overjoyed, Jia Yun went to Luminous Clouds Studio and asked for Baoyu, only to find he had gone out early that morning to call on the Prince of Beijing. He sat quietly there till noon when he heard that Xifeng was back, and then wrote a receipt and went to get the tally. He waited outside the courtyard while a servant announced him. Then Caiming came out and took his receipt. When the amount to be drawn and the date had been filled in, the page returned it to him with the tally. He saw to his delight that the sum entered was two hundred taels and went straight to the treasury to get the silver, then home to inform his mother, who rejoiced with him.

  At the fifth watch the next morning, he sought out Ni Er to return his loan, and seeing that he was in funds Ni Er took the money.

  Then Jia Yun took fifty taels to the house of Fang Chun, a gardener who lived outside the West Gate, from whom he bought trees.

  To revert now to Baoyu. His invitation to Jia Yun that day had been no more than a rich lordling’s way of talking, and not being seriously meant was soon forgotten. Upon his return from the palace of the Prince of Beijing in the evening, he paid his respects to his grandmother and mother before going back to the Garden, Where he took off his formal clothes and waited for his bath.

  It so happened that Xiren had been asked over by Baochai to help braid some knot-buttons; Qiuwen and Bihen had gone to hurry the servants bringing water; Tanyun had asked leave for her mother’s birthday; and Sheyue was ill at home. The other maids who did the rougher work, not expecting to be summoned, had gone off in search of their friends. Thus for a short while Baoyu was all alone. And precisely at this moment he wanted some tea. He called several times before two or three old nannies came in. These he hastily waved away saying:

  “It’s all right. I don’t need you.”

  Then the old women had to withdraw.

  As none of the girls were about, Baoyu fetched a bowl himself and went to get the teapot.

  “Don’t scald yourself, Master Bao. Let me do that,” called a voice from behind. A girl stepped forward and took the bowl from him.

  Baoyu started.

  “Where did you spring from?” he asked. “What a fright you gave me!”

  Handing him the tea she answered: “I was in the back yard. Didn’t you hear me come in by the back door, Master Bao?”

  Baoyu sized her up as he sipped his tea. Her clothes were by no means new, but with her fine black hair gathered in a knot, her oval face and her trim, slender figure, she looked altogether a most sweet, pretty girl.

  “Do you work here?” he asked with a smile. “Yes,” she answered.

  “How is it, in that case, I’ve never seen you?” The maid laughed mockingly.

  “There are plenty of us you haven’t seen. I’m not the only one by any means. How could you know me? I don’t fetch and carry for you, or wait on you personally.”

  “Why not?”

  “That’s asking! But I’ve something to report, sir. Yesterday a young gentleman called Yun came to see you. I told Beiming to send him away as I thought you were busy, and asked him to come back this morning. But by then you’d already gone to call on the prince.”

  Just at this moment Qiuwen and Bihen staggered back, laughing and chatting, holding up their skirts, a bucket between them from which the water was splashing. This maid hurried to relieve them of their load.

  “You’ve wet my skirt,” Qiuwen complained to Bihen.

  “You trod on my shoe!” Bihen retorted.

  Looking at this girl who had appeared so abruptly, they saw it was Xiaohong. Both put down the bucket in surprise and hurried in. They were very put out to find Baoyu on his own. As soon as they had prepared his bath and helped him undress,
they closed the door behind them and went round again to the back to find Xiaohong.

  “What were you doing in there just now?” they demanded.

  “I hadn’t been in,” she said. “I couldn’t find my handkerchief, so I was looking for it at the back when Master Bao called for tea. As none of you sisters was about, I went in to pour it for him. And that’s when you turned up.”

  Qiuwen spat in her face.

  “Shameless slut! I told you to go and hurry them with the water, but you said you were busy and made us go instead. Then you seized this chance to wait on him here yourself. You’re making your way up, aren’t you? Think we can’t keep up with you, eh? Have a look at yourself in a mirror. Are you fit to serve Master Bao tea?”

  Bihen chimed in: ‘Tomorrow we’ll tell the others that if he wants tea or water or anything, we needn’t stir—she’ll do it.”

  “The rest of us may just as well clear off, leaving her on her own here.”

  They were laying into Xiaohong in turn when an old nanny arrived with a message from Xifeng.

  “Someone’s bringing gardeners tomorrow to plant trees, so you must watch out. Don’t go sunning your clothes and skirts all over the place. All the artificial hills will be screened off. You’re not to go running wild.

  “Who’ll be in charge of the workmen?” asked Qiuwen.

  “Some Master Yun from the back lane,” was the answer.

  The name meant nothing to Qiuwen and Bihen, who put some other questions; but Xiaohong knew it must be the man she had met the day before in the study outside.

  Now Xiaohong’s family name was Lin and her childhood name was Hongyu (Red Jade); but because “yu” (jade)came in the names Daiyu and Baoyu she was called Xiaohong instead. Her family had served the Jias for generations, and her father was now in charge of various farms and properties outside. Xiaohong was sixteen this year. When first sent into Grand View Garden she had been assigned to Happy Red Court, which was pleasantly quiet at the time. But after the girls and Baoyu were commanded to move there to live and these rooms were taken by him, simple as Xiaohong was, with her good looks she was foolishly eager to climb up in the world. She had long been looking for a chance to attract Baoyu’s attention, but his other attendants were too smart to allow her to put herself forward. Today her opportunity had come, but her hopes had been dashed by the spitefulness of Qiuwen and Bihen. She was feeling most disgruntled when the old nanny mentioned that Jia Yun would be coming, and that put a new idea into her head. She went dejectedly back to her room and lay down to think it over. As she tossed and turned someone called softly through the window:

  “Xiaohong! I’ve found your handkerchief for you.”

  She ran out to look. It was no other than Jia Yun. With a blush of confusion she asked:

  “Where did you find it, sir?”

  Jia Yun laughed.

  “Come here and I’ll tell you.”

  He grabbed for her. She turned frantically and fled, but stumbled over the threshold and woke with a start. So it was only a dream! If you want to know the upshot, read the next chapter.

  Chapter 25

  Five Devils Invoked by Sorcery Take Possession of Baoyu and Xifeng

  Two Sages See the Jade of Spiritual Understanding in the Dream of Red Mansions

  Xiaohong fell into a doze, her thoughts running on love. When Jia Yun tried to seize her she turned and fled, but stumbling over the threshold woke with a start to the realization that it was only a dream. She tossed and turned sleeplessly until day dawned, when some other maids called her to help them sweep and fetch water. Without washing her face or putting on any make-up, she casually smoothed her hair in front of the mirror and hastily rinsed her hands, after which she tied a sash round her waist and set about her work.

  Now Baoyu had been so struck by Xiaohong the previous day that he would have liked to have her wait on him, but he feared this might upset Xiren and the others; besides, there was no saying how the girl would turn out. If she proved satisfactory, well and good; if not, sending her away again would be awkward. So he got up moodily and sat there brooding, not even troubling to comb his hair or wash.

  Presently the shutters were taken down and through the gauze window he had a clear view of the maids sweeping the courtyard. All of them were powdered and rouged, with flowers or willow shoots in their hair, but he saw no sign of Xiaohong. He slipped on his shoes and strolled out, ostensibly to look at the flowers, gazing this way and that until he glimpsed, half-hidden by a crab-apple tree, a figure leaning over the balustrade in the southwest comer of the covered walk. He strolled round the tree and looked more closely. Yes, it was the girl of the day before, apparently lost in thought. He was wondering whether to accost her when Bihen fetched him in again to wash. He had no choice but to go back.

  And now Xiaohong was aroused from her abstraction by the sight of Xiren beckoning. She went to see what was wanted.

  “Our watering-can’s broken and hasn’t been mended yet,” said Xiren. “I want you to go and borrow one of Miss Lin’s.”

  The girl set off on this errand to Bamboo Lodge. As she crossed Green Mist Bridge the sight of the artificial hills screened off reminded her that this was the day for tree-planting. Some distance away a band of men could be seen digging under the supervision of Jia Yun, seated on a nearby boulder. Not having the courage to approach him, she proceeded quietly to Bamboo Lodge, borrowed a watering-can and took it back, then lay down in her room in low spirits. The others, assuming that she was feeling unwell, paid no attention. And the day dragged by, uneventful.

  The day after that was the birthday of Wang Ziteng’s wife, and the Lady Dowager and Lady Wang had been invited to the celebrations. Since her mother-in-law did not go, neither did Lady Wang; but Aunt Xue, Xifeng, the three Jia girls, Baochai and Baoyu went along, not returning till the evening.

  It so happened that when Jia Huan came back from school Lady Wang had told him to copy out for her some incantations invoking the Buddhist guardian deities, the dvarapalas. The boy took a seat on the kang in her room, ordered candles to be lighted, and set about writing with a great show of importance. Now he called Caiyun to pour him tea, now told Yuchuan to trim the wicks of his candles, now complained that Jinchuan was standing in his light. As all the maids disliked him they took no notice—all except Caixia who still kept in with him. She poured him some tea and, noticing that Lady Wang was chatting with some other people, she whispered:

  “Be quiet. Don’t be such a nuisance. You’re only making yourself unpopular.”

  “Don’t try to fool me,” he retorted. “I can see what’s happening. Now you’re friendly with Baoyu, you mean to ignore me.”

  Caixia bit her lips and with one finger rapped him on the forehead.

  “You ungrateful thing! Like the dog that bit Lu Dongbin—you bite the hand that feeds you.”

  Just then Xifeng came in to pay her respects, and Lady Wang wanted a detailed account of the party—the other guests, the operas and the feast. Before long Baoyu, too, arrived. Having greeted his mother and made some polite conversation, he told the maids to help him off with his chaplet, gown and boots, then nestled up to his mother. As she stroked and caressed him he put his arms round her neck and chattered.

  “You’ve had too much to drink again, my son,” scolded Lady Wang. “How hot your face is! If you go on tossing about like this, the wine may go up to your head. Why not lie down and rest a while.”

  She called for a pillow and Baoyu, lying down behind her, asked Caixia to come and massage him. But when he joked with her she cold-shouldered him and kept her eyes on Jia Huan. Baoyu took her hand.

  “Do be nice to me, sister!” he begged.

  Caixia snatched her hand away.

  “If you do that again, I’ll shout,” she warned him.

  This was overheard by Jia Huan, who had always hated Baoyu. At the sight of him teasing Caixia, he felt ready to explode with jealousy. He dared not protest outright, but he had mulled over a plan and
now that they were so close he saw his chance to put it into action. He would blind Baoyu with burning candle-wax! Deliberately knocking over the candlestick, he splashed the hot melted wax on his half-brother’s face. Baoyu’s cry of pain made everyone jump for fright. They hastily brought over the standard lamp as well as several lamps from other rooms, and saw with consternation that Baoyu’s face was covered with wax. Frantic and furious, Lady Wang ordered the servants to wipe it off, and then rounded on Jia Huan.

  “What a dunderhead!” scolded Xifeng with a smile on her face, as she scrambled on to the kang to attend to Baoyu. “Huan’s not fit to mix in decent company. His mother really ought to bring him up better.”

  This remark was the cue for Lady Wang to stop abusing Jia Huan and to send for the concubine Zhao.

  “Why don’t you teach that spiteful brat of yours to behave himself?” she fumed. “Time and again I’ve overlooked this sort of thing, but it only makes you worse. Conceited creature!”

  Although the concubine was eaten up by jealousy of Xifeng and Baoyu, she dared not show it either. Now that Jia Huan had made such trouble, she had no alternative but to accept these taunts meekly and show concern for Baoyu. His left cheek was badly blistered, but luckily no damage had been done to his eyes. Lady Wang’s heart ached for him even as she wondered how she was to answer for this to her mother-in-law tomorrow. She vented her anger again on the concubine, then went on soothing Baoyu and dabbing his cheeks with a disinfectant ointment.

  “It stings a bit but it’s nothing serious,” Baoyu assured her. “Tomorrow if grandmother asks, I’ll say I scalded myself.”

  “She’ll scold us all the same for our negligence,” retorted Xifeng smiling. “There’ll be a row anyway, no matter what you say.”

  Lady Wang then had Baoyu escorted back to his rooms, where Xiren and the others were horrified by his appearance.

  Daiyu had been lonely all day in Baoyu’s absence, and sent several times that evening to ask whether he was back. When she learned of his accident she hurried over to find him in front of the mirror, his left cheek daubed with ointment. Imagining that the burn was serious, she approached to have a look; but Baoyu, knowing how fastidious she was, covered his cheek with one hand and waved her away. Daiyu knew her own weakness; she also knew that Baoyu was afraid of disgusting her.