by Cao Xueqin
Chapter 30
Baochai Uses a Fan to Make an Insinuation
Lingguan Writes on the Ground and a Foolish Young Man Is Touched
Daiyu for her part was also remorseful after her quarrel with Baoyu, but could think of no pretext to go and make it up. So she spent all day and night in a state of depression, feeling as if bereft. Zijuan, who guessed how she felt, tried to reason with her.
“The fact is you were too hasty the other day, miss,” she said. “We should know Baoyu if no one else does. After all, it’s not the first time there’s been a rumpus over that jade.”
“So you side with the others and blame me,” snapped Daiyu. “In what way was I hasty?”
“Why did you cut off the tassel for no reason? That put you more in the wrong than Master Bao. I know how devoted he is to you, miss. All this comes of your touchiness and the way you twist his words.”
Before Daiyu could retort they heard someone calling at the outer gate.
“It’s Baoyu’s voice.” Zijuan smiled. “He must be coming to apologize.”
“Don’t let him in.”
“That wouldn’t be right, miss. It’s a scorching day. We don’t want him to get sunstroke.”
She went and opened the gate, ushering Baoyu in with a smile.
“I thought you’d never cross this threshold of ours again,” she remarked. “But here you are.”
“You take things far too seriously.” He chuckled. “Why shouldn’t I come? Even if I were dead, my ghost would haunt you a hundred times a day. Tell me, is my cousin better?”
“In her health, yes. Not in her feelings.”
“I know what’s the trouble with her.”
He went in and found Daiyu indulging in a fresh fit of weeping on her bed, so much had his arrival touched her.
Walking cheerfully up to her bedside he asked, “Are you feeling a little better?”
When she simply wiped her tears without answering, he sat down on the edge of the bed.
“I know you’re not really angry with me,” he told her. “But if I stayed away others might think we’d quarrelled again and come to act as peacemakers, as if the two of us were strangers. So beat me or scold me as much as you like but for pity’s sake don’t ignore me, dear cousin, sweet cousin!”
Daiyu had in fact determined to ignore him, but this speech proving that she was dearer to him than anyone else, and all the endearments he now poured out,- made her break down again.
“You needn’t flatter me,” she sobbed. “I shall never dare be friends with you again. Behave as if I’d gone.”
“Where would you go?” Baoyu laughed.
“Home.”
“I’d go with you.”
“What if I should die?”
“I’d become a monk.”
“What a thing to say!” She frowned sternly. “Why talk such nonsense? Think of all the sisters and girl cousins you have. Do you have so many lives that you can become a monk every time one of them dies? Wait and see what the others say when I tell them this.”
Baoyu could have kicked himself for this fresh blunder. Flushing red he hung his head without a word, thankful that no one else was in the room. Too angry to speak, she fixed him with furious eyes until his cheeks were burning. Then, clenching her teeth, she stabbed with one finger at his forehead.
“You....”
But this exclamation ended in a sigh as she took out her handkerchief and wiped her tears.
Baoyu’s heart was very full and he was ashamed of speaking so foolishly. When she struck him then sighed and wept without a word, he too was reduced to tears. He started to wipe them with his sleeve, having forgotten to bring a handkerchief, and Daiyu noticed through her own tears that he was wearing a new lilac blue linen gown. While dabbing at her own eyes she turned and took a silk handkerchief from her pillow, tossed him this in silence and covered her face again.
Baoyu took the handkerchief and wiped his tears, then stepped forward to clasp her hand.
“You’re breaking my heart with your weeping,” he declared. “Come, let’s go and see the old lady.”
“Take your hands off me!” She pulled away. “You’re not a child any more, yet you still carry on in this shameless way. Can’t you behave yourself?”
She was interrupted by the cry “Thank goodness!”
The two of them started, then turned to see Xifeng sweeping gaily in.
“The old lady’s fulminating against Heaven and Earth,” she informed them. “She insisted I come to see if you’d made it up. I told her, ‘No need, they’ll be friends again in less than three days.’ But she scolded me for being too lazy to stir, so I had to come. Well, what did I say? I can’t see what you two have to quarrel about. Friends one day, squabbling the next, you’re worse than children. Now you’re holding hands and crying, but yesterday you were like fighting cocks. Come along with me, quick, to your grandmother to set the old lady’s mind at rest.”
She caught hold of Daiyu meaning to lead her away. Daiyu turned to call her maids but not one was there.
“What do you want them for?” asked Xifeng. “I’ll look after you.”
With that she pulled her out. And Baoyu followed them out of the Garden to the Lady Dowager’s quarters.
“I said don’t worry, they’ll make it up themselves,” announced Xifeng cheerfully. “Our Old Ancestress didn’t believe me, and insisted I go along as peacemaker. I found they’d already asked each other’s forgiveness, and were clinging together like an eagle sinking its talons into a hawk. They didn’t need any help.”
This set the whole room laughing. Baochai was also there. Daiyu said nothing but took a seat by the Lady Dowager.
To make conversation Baoyu told Baochai: “I would have to be out of sorts on your brother’s birthday; that’s why I haven’t sent any present over or even gone to offer congratulations. If he doesn’t know I’m unwell, he may think I couldn’t be bothered and be offended. Do explain to him, will you, cousin?”
“You’re over-punctilious,” said Baochai. “We wouldn’t dare put you to any trouble even if you wished to go, much less so when you’re unwell. As cousins you’re always seeing so much of each other, you’ve no call to behave like strangers.”
“So long as you understand and will overlook it.” He added, “But why aren’t you watching the operas, cousin?”
“I feel the heat. After watching two pieces I couldn’t stand it any longer. But as the guests hadn’t left, I had to pretend to be feeling unwell in order to slip away.”
This sounded to Baoyu like a reflection on him. In his embarrassment he said with a sheepish smile:
“No wonder they compare you to Lady Yang, you’re both ‘plump and sensitive to the heat.’“
Baochai was so enraged by this remark that she could have flown into a temper, but she restrained herself. This quip rankled so much, however, that she reddened and laughed sarcastically.
“If I’m so like Lady Yang,” she retorted, “it’s too bad I’ve no brother or cousin able to be another Yang Guozhong.”
She was interrupted by one of the young maids, Dianer, who had mislaid her fan.
“You must have hidden it, miss,” she said playfully. “Do let me have it back.”
“Behave yourself!” cried Baochai sharply, wagging one finger at her. “Have I ever played such tricks with you, that you should suspect me? You should ask the other young ladies who are always joking with you.”
This rebuff frightened Dianer away.
Baoyu knew he had made another gaffe, in public too. Even more embarrassed than earlier on with Daiyu, he turned away to talk to the others.
Daiyu had been delighted to hear him make fun of Baochai. She would, indeed, have joined in if not for Baochai’s retort regarding the fan. She decided, as it was, to change the subject.
“What were the two operas you saw, cousin?” she asked.
Daiyu’s enjoyment of her discomfiture at Baoyu’s remark had not escaped Baochai, who smiled
at this question.
“One was that piece,” she answered, “in which Li Kui abuses Song Jiang and then apologizes.”
Baoyu laughed.
“Why, cousin,” he cried, “surely you’re sufficiently well versed in ancient and modern literature to know the title of that opera. Why do you have to describe it? It’s called Abject Apologies.”
“Abject Apologies, is it?” retorted Baochai. “You two are the ones well versed in ancient and modern literature, so of course you know all about ‘abject apologies’—that’s something quite beyond me.”
As both Baoyu and Daiyu were conscience-stricken, they immediately blushed. And Xifeng, although she did not understand such allusions, could guess from their expressions what was afoot.
“Who’s been eating ginger in such hot weather?” she asked. The others were mystified.
“No one’s been eating ginger.”
Xifeng put both hands to her cheeks with a show of astonishment.
“In that case, why are some people so red in the face?”
This embarrassed Baoyu and Daiyu even more. And when Baochai saw Baoyu so out of countenance, she simply smiled and let the matter drop. So did the others, who had not caught on to this exchange between the four of them.
Presently Baochai and Xifeng left. Then Daiyu turned with a smile to Baoyu.
“Now you’ve come up against someone with a sharper tongue than mine. Not everyone’s as simple and tongue-tied as I am, so easy to tease.”
Baoyu was already put out by Baochai’s annoyance, and this fresh provocation added to his ill humour. But not wanting to annoy Daiyu too, he kept his temper and sulkily left the room.
It was now mid-summer. The days were so long that after lunch masters and servants alike were exhausted. His hands behind his back, Baoyu strolled through the grounds and did not hear a sound. From the Lady Dowager’s quarters he wandered west through the passage hall to Xifeng’s compound; but the gate there was closed and he knew he had better not call as she usually took a nap after lunch in the summer. So he sauntered through a side gate to his mother’s apartments, where some maids were dozing with needlework in their hands while Lady Wang slept on a couch in the inner room. Jinchuan, sitting by her to massage her legs, was nodding drowsily too.
Baoyu tiptoed up to her and flicked one of her earrings, whereupon she opened her eyes.
“You sleepy-head!” he whispered.
She pouted, smiled and motioned him away, then closed her eyes again; but Baoyu was reluctant to leave her. He stole a glance at his mother. Her eyes were closed. Then he took a peppermint pastille from his pouch and slipped it between Jinchuan’s lips. She accepted it without opening her eyes. At that Baoyu pressed closer and took her hand.
“I’ll ask your mistress for you tomorrow,” he said softly. “Then we can be together .”
Jinchuan made no reply.
“Or rather I’ll ask her as soon as she wakes.”
The girl opened her eyes then and pushed him away.
“What’s the hurry? ‘A gold pin may fall into the well, but if it’s yours it remains yours.’ Can’t you understand that proverb? I’ll tell you something amusing to do. Go to the small east courtyard and see what your brother Huan and Caiyun are up to.”
“I don’t care what they’re up to. It’s you I’m interested in.”
At this point Lady Wang sat up and slapped Jinchuan’s face.
“Shameless slut!” she scolded. “It’s low creatures like you who lead the young masters astray.”
Baoyu had vanished like smoke as soon as his mother sat up. Jinchuan’s cheek was tingling but she dared say nothing and the other maids, hearing their mistress’s voice, hurried in.
“Yuchuan!” ordered Lady Wang. “Go and tell your mother to come at once and take your sister away.”
At these words Jinchuan fell on her knees and burst into tears. “I shan’t let it happen again, madam,” she cried. “Whip me, scold me or punish me as you please, but for pity’s sake don’t send me away! I’ve been with Your Ladyship more than ten years. If you dismiss me now, how can I look anyone in the face again?”
Lady Wang was generally speaking too good-natured and easy-going to beat the maids; but the shameless way in which Jinchuan had behaved was the one thing she could not abide. That was why, flaring up, she had slapped and cursed her. Although the maid pleaded hard she refused to keep her, and her mother, old Mrs. Bai, had to take her away. So Jinchuan went home in disgrace.
Meanwhile Baoyu had scuttled back to Grand View Garden. The sun was high in the sky, trees cast ample shade and the air was full of the shrilling of cicadas, but no human voice could be heard. However, as he approached a trellis of roses, he heard sobbing and stopped in his surprise to listen, Yes, there was someone on the other side of the trellis. As it was now the fifth month, the roses were in full bloom. Peeping through the lattice-work, he saw a girl crouching below the flowers and weeping all alone as she scratched the ground with a hairpin.
“Can this be another absurd maid come to bury flowers like Daiyu?” he wondered in some amusement. “If so, she’s ‘Dong Shi imitating Xi Shi,’ which isn’t original but rather tiresome.”
He was on the point of calling out to the girl, “It’s no use your trying to copy Miss Lin!” when he realized she was not one of the maids but looked like one of the twelve actresses, although he could not remember which role she played. He grimaced then hastily covered his mouth.
“It’s a good thing I held my tongue,” he told himself. “I’ve already annoyed Daiyu and hurt Baochai’s feelings by my tactlessness. It would be still more senseless to offend any of these girls.”
With these reflection, he felt put out at not being able to identify the girl and he studied her more closely. With her finely arched eyebrows and limpid eyes, her delicate features, slender waist and graceful movements, she bore a striking resemblance to Daiyu. He stood staring, unable to tear himself away. And now he observed that instead of using her hairpin to bury flowers she was writing something with it on the ground.
Baoyu followed the pin with his eyes as it moved up and down. He counted the strokes—vertical, horizontal, dotted and curved there were seventeen in all. Then he traced them in the same order on his palm and discovered that this was the character Qiang for “rose.”
“She must be trying to write a poem,” he thought, “and these flowers have suggested the idea for a couple of lines. For fear of forgetting it, she’s tracing the character while she thinks it out. Yes, that may be it. Let me see what else she writes.”
He went on watching as the girl went on writing, but she merely repeated the same character.
Lost in thought, the girl by the trellis traced one Qiang after another until she had written several dozen, while Baoyu watched raptly from the other side, following the movements of the pin with his eyes.
“She must have some secret anxiety preying on her mind to carry on like this,” he reflected. “Yet she looks too delicate to stand much anxiety. I wish I could share her troubles.”
Mid-summer weather is unpredictable: a passing cloud may bring rain. Now a cool breeze sprang up and there was a sudden shower. Seeing that water dripped off the girl’s head and in no time had wet her gauze clothes, he thought: It’s raining. She’s too frail to stand such a downpour. Impulsively he called out:
“Do stop writing! Look, you’re getting drenched.”
The girl raised her head with a start at hearing this shout from the other side of the trellis. As Baoyu was finely-featured and as the thick foliage screened all but the top of his face, she took him for a maid.
“Thanks, sister,” she said with a smile. “You don’t seem to have much shelter out there yourself either.”
Baoyu uttered an exclamation of dismay as it came home to him how cold he was. Looking down he saw that his clothes were wet through.
“Bother it!” he cried.
He set off at a run then towards Happy Red Court, still worrying over t
he girl out in the rain.
Now as this was the eve of the Double Fifth Festival, the twelve young actresses had been given a holiday and were amusing themselves in different parts of the Garden. Baoguan who played young scholars and Yuguan who played young ladies were enjoying themselves in Happy Red Court with Xiren, when it came on to rain. They stopped up the drain to make water collect in the yard and caught some water-fowl-green-headed ducks, speckled mallards and mandarin ducks. Having tied their wings they let these loose in the yard, after which they bolted the gate.
While they stood on the verandah enjoying the fun, Baoyu arrived back only to find the gate closed. The girls were laughing too much to hear his knock, so that he shouted and pounded for a long time before they finally heard. And of course they were not expecting him back at this time.
“Who’s that at the gate?” asked Xiren. “Who’ll go and see?”
“It’s I!” cried Baoyu.
“Sounds like Miss Baochai,” said Sheyue.
“Nonsense!” exclaimed Qingwen. “Miss Baochai wouldn’t come at this hour.”
“I’ll peep through a crack,” offered Xiren, “to see if it’s somebody we should let in. If it’s not, we’ll let whoever it is get a soaking.”
She went along the covered corridor to the gate and discovered Baoyu there, drenched as a drowned cock. Torn between concern and amusement she hastily opened the gate, then doubled up with laughter, clapping her hands.
“How were we to know you were back?” she spluttered. “Where have you been, running about in such a downpour?”
Baoyu, in a foul temper, had decided to punish whoever opened the gate. Without waiting to see who it was, and assuming that this was one of the younger girls, he kicked Xiren so hard in the side that she let out a cry.
“You low creatures!” he stormed. “I treat you so well that you’ve lost all sense of respect. Now you dare make fun of me!”
At this point he lowered his head and heard Xiren’s cry. He realized then what a blunder he had made.
“Oh, is it you?” He smiled apologetically. “Where did I kick you?”