by Cao Xueqin
“Even your hens here are refined,” she remarked, “laying such tiny, dainty eggs as these. Well, let me ‘fuck’ one of them.”
This caused a fresh outburst of laughter. The Lady Dowager laughed so much that tears streamed from her eyes and Hupo had to pat her on the back.
“That wretch Xifeng’s up to her tricks again,” she gasped. “Don’t believe a word she says.”
Granny Liu was still admiring the dainty eggs and saying she wanted to “fuck” one, when Xifeng told her merrily:
“They cost one tael of silver each. Better try one while they’re hot.”
The old woman reached out with her chopsticks but failed to secure an egg. After chasing them round the bowl for a time she finally succeeded in catching one; but as she craned forward to eat it, the egg slipped and fell to the floor. She hastily put down her chopsticks and stooped to retrieve it. However, a maid had already picked it up.
“A tael of silver!” Granny Liu sighed. “And gone without a sound.”
The others had long since stopped eating to watch her antics.
“This isn’t a formal banquet. Who gave her those chop sticks?” demanded the Lady Dowager. “This is all the doing of that minx Xifeng. Get her another pair.”
It was, indeed, not the maids but Xifeng and Yuanyang who had brought the ivory chopsticks. Now these were removed, an ebony pair inlaid with silver taking their place.
“After the gold comes the silver,” observed Granny Liu. “They’re not as handy, though, as the ones we use.”
“If there’s poison in the dish,” Xifeng explained, “the silver will show
it.”
“Poison! If this food is poison, ours is pure arsenic. But I’m going to finish the lot, even if it kill me.”
The Lady Dowager found her so amusing as she munched away with relish that she passed her some of her own dishes, at the same time instructing an old nurse to help Baner to everything that was going.
When presently the meal ended, the Lady Dowager and some of the others adjourned to Tanchun’s bedroom for a chat while the tables were cleared and another laid for Li Wan and Xifeng.
Granny Liu watching this said, “Leaving everything else aside, what I like best is the way things are done in your household. No wonder they say, ‘Good manners come from great households.’“
“You mustn’t take offence,” responded Xifeng quickly. “We were only having fun just now.”
Yuanyang promptly stepped forward too.
“Don’t be cross, granny,” she begged with a smile. “Please accept my apologies.”
“What a thing to say, miss!” Granny Liu laughed. “We were trying to amuse the old lady, why should I be cross? When you tipped me off, I knew it was all in fun. If I’d been annoyed I would have kept my mouth shut.”
Yuanyang then scolded the maids for not serving granny with tea.
“That sister-in-law there brought me some just now,” put in Granny Liu hastily. “No more, thank you, you ought to have your own breakfast now, miss.”
“Come and eat with us,” said Xifeng to Yuanyang, making her sit down at their table. “That’ll save another commotion later on.”
So Yuanyang sat down with them and the matrons brought an extra bowl and chopsticks. The three of them finished so soon that Granny Liu commented with a smile:
“It’s a marvel to me what small appetites you have. No wonder a gust of wind can blow you over.”
“What’s happened to all the left-overs?” asked Yuanyang.
“Nothing’s been done with them yet,” replied the matrons. “They’re still waiting here to be shared out.”
“There’s more than enough for the people here,” said Yuanyang. “Choose two dishes for Pinger and send them round to Madam Lian’s quarters.”
“She’s eaten already,” put in Xifeng. “There’s no need.”
“If she doesn’t eat them your cat can have them,” said Yuanyang. A matron promptly chose two dishes and took them off in a hamper. “Where’s Suyun?” Yuanyang asked next.
“They’ll all eat here together,” said Li Wan. “Why single her out?”
“That’s all right then,” replied Yuanyang.
“Xiren’s not here,” Xifeng reminded her. “You might send her a couple of dishes.”
Yuanyang saw that this was done, then asked the matrons whether the boxes of tidbits to go with the wine were ready yet or not. On being told that this would probably still take some time, she sent them off to expedite matters.
Xifeng and the others now joined the rest of the party who were chatting in Tanchun’s room. This was really three rooms in one, as Tanchun liked plenty of space. On the big rosewood marble-topped desk in the centre were piles of albums by noted calligraphers, several dozen good inkstones and an array of jars and other containers holding a regular forest of brushes. On one side a flu-ware vase the size of a peck mea sure was filled with chrysanthemums white as crystal balls. In the middle of the west wall hung a large painting by Mi Fu, Mist and Rain, flanked by a couplet in Yan Zhenqing’s calligraphy:
Indolent fellow among mist and clouds,
Rustic life amidst rocks and springs.
On another table was a large tripod. To its left, on a red sandalwood stand, a big dish of Gwan-ware porcelain was heaped with several dozen handsome golden Buddha’s-hands. To its right, suspended on a lacquer frame, was a white jade musical stone with a small hammer next to it. Baner, over the worst of his shyness now, was reaching out for the hammer to strike the jade when one of the maids quickly stopped him. Then he wanted a Buddha’s-hand to eat. Tanchun gave him one explaining that it was to play with, not to eat.
At the east end of the room stood a large bed, its leek-green gauze curtain embroidered on both sides with flowers and insects. Baner ran over to have a look.
“Here’s a cricket!” he exclaimed. “Here’s a locust!”
Granny Liu promptly gave him a slap.
“Little wretch!” she scolded. “Pawing everything with your dirty hands. If you’re allowed in to look, don’t raise such a rumpus.”
At this Baner set up a howl and the others had to intercede to soothe him. Meanwhile the Lady Dowager had been looking through the window gauze at the back yard.
“That wu-tung tree under the eaves looks well,” she remarked. “It’s not sturdy enough though.”
Just then a gust of wind carried them the strains of distant music.
“Who’s having a wedding?” she asked. “We must be quite near the street here.”
“Not near enough to hear sounds from the street,” replied Lady Wang. “It’s those child-actresses of ours rehearsing their music.”
“If they’re rehearsing, let’s get them to do it here. It’ll be a little outing for them and we’ll have fun too.”
Xifeng promptly sent for the actresses and gave orders for tables to be brought and a red carpet spread.
“No, let’s use that lake pavilion by Lotus Fragrance Anchorage,” proposed the Lady Dowager. “Music sounds better on the water. And we can drink in the Tower of Variegated Splendour which is roomy and within easy hearing distance.”
All approved this idea.
Then with a smile to Aunt Xue the old lady said, “Let’s go. These girls don’t really welcome visitors for fear their rooms may be dirtied. We mustn’t impose on them. So let’s go boating and then have a few drinks.”
As everyone rose to leave Tanchun protested, “What a thing to say! We only wish you’d come more often.”
“Yes, my third grand-daughter’s good that way,” said the old lady. “It’s Daiyu and Baoyu who are so pernickety. On our way back, when we’re tipsy, we must go there just to annoy them.”
They trooped out, laughing, and soon reached Watercress Isle where some boatwomen from Suzhou had punted two pyrus-wood boats. Into one of these they helped the Lady Dowager, Lady Wang, Aunt Xue, Granny Liu, Yuanyang and Yuchuan. Li Wan followed them and so did Xifeng, who took her stand in the prow meaning to p
unt.
“It’s not as easy as it looks!” warned the Lady Dowager from the cabin. “We’re not on the river, it’s true, but it’s fairly deep here. So don’t try, and come inside at once.”
“It’s quite safe,” cried Xifeng. “Don’t worry, Old Ancestress.”
She pushed off with a shove for the middle of the lake, but when the small overloaded boat started rocking she thrust the pole into the hands of a boatwoman and hastily squatted down.
Yingchun and the other girls followed in the second boat with Baoyu, while the rest Of the attendants walked along the bank.
“How disgusting those withered lotus leaves look,” remarked Baoyu. “Why not get people to pull them out?”
“What time has there been for that?” countered Baochai with a smile. “We’ve been out here enjoying ourselves every day recently.”
Daiyu put in, “I don’t like Li Shangyin’s verses except for that single line:
‘Leave the withered lotus to hear the patter of rain.’
But now you two don’t want to leave them.”
“That’s a good line,” agreed Baoyu. “All right, we won’t have them pulled out.”
They had now reached Reed Creek by Flowery Harbour. In the shade here chill penetrated their very bones, while their awareness of autumn was heightened by the withered grass and caltrops on both sides. The Lady Dowager fixed her eyes on the airy lodge on the bank.
“Isn’t that where Baochai lives?” she asked.
They told her it was.
At once she ordered the boats to go alongside and, climbing the stone steps to Alpinia Park, they were greeted by a strange fragrance. The advance of autumn had deepened the green of the rare plants and creepers there, from each of which hung charming clusters of berries like coral beads. The room which they now entered was spotless as a snow cave, with hardly an ornament in the whole place. The desk was bare except for a rough crackleware vase with some chrysanthemums in it, two sets of books and a tea-service. The blue gauze bed-curtains and bedding were also of the simplest.
“What a goose this child is!” cried the Lady Dowager. “Why not ask your aunt for some knick-knacks? It didn’t occur to me, I just didn’t think. Of course you left all your own things at home.”
Having told Yuanyang to be sure to fetch some curios, she called Xifeng to task.
“Why didn’t you send over some pretty things for your cousin? How very stingy!”
“She wouldn’t have them,” explained Lady Wang and Xifeng. “She returned all the ones we sent.”
“She doesn’t care for such things at home either,” put in Aunt Xue.
“This will never do.” The old lady shook her head. “She may have simple tastes, but this wouldn’t look well if relatives were to call. Besides, it’ll bring bad luck for girls, this austerity. Why, in that case we old women ought to live in stables! You’ve all heard those descriptions in ballads and operas of the elegance of young ladies’ boudoirs. Maybe these girls of ours can’t compare with those young ladies, but they shouldn’t go to the other extreme either. When we’ve knick-knacks ready at hand why not display them? Of course, if your tastes are simple you can have less.
“I used to have a flair for decorating rooms, but now that I’m old I haven’t the energy. These girls should learn how to fix up their rooms too. The only trouble is if you’ve a vulgar taste, for then you’ll make even handsome things look frightful; but I wouldn’t call our girls vulgar. Now let me fit out this room for you, and I promise it’ll be in quiet yet excellent taste. I’ve a couple of nice things which I’ve managed to keep by not allowing Baoyu to set eyes on them—if he had, they’d have disappeared.”
She called Yuanyang over and ordered, “Fetch that miniature rock garden, that little gauze screen and the dark steatite tripod. Those three things will do nicely for the desk. And fetch those white silk bed-curtains with the ink painting and calligraphy in place of these.”
“Very good, madam,” said Yuanyang. “But those things are in some cases in the east attic. They may take a little finding. Suppose I get them tomorrow?”
“Tomorrow or the day after, it doesn’t matter. Don’t forget, that’s all.”
After sitting a little longer they went on to the Tower of Variegated Splendour, where Wenguan and the other young actresses paid their respects and asked which tunes they should play.
“Just choose a few you want to rehearse,” replied the Lady Dowager.
Thereupon the actresses withdrew to Lotus Fragrance Anchorage.
By now Xifeng and her helpers had everything in perfect order. There were two couches on the north side, left and right, spread with brocade cushions and velvet coverlets. In front of each couch stood two carved lacquer teapoys of different shapes with pyrus-blossom, plum-blossom, lotus and sun flower designs, some square, some round, one of which held an incense-burner, a vase and a box of various sweetmeats. The other was empty, ready for their favourite dishes. These two couches with four teapoys were for the Lady Dowager and Aunt Xue. Then there were a chair and two teapoys for Lady Wang, while the others had one chair and teapoy apiece. Granny Liu’s seat was on the east; below it was that of Lady Wang.
On the west sat Xiangyun, Baochai, Daiyu, Yingchun, Tanchun and Xichun in that order with, last of all, Baoyu. Li Wan and Xifeng had seats outside the inner screen, within the third row of balustrades. The designs on the comfit-boxes matched those of the teapoys. Everyone also had a tarnished silver wine-pot with engraved designs and variegated cloisonne cup.
As soon as the party was seated the Lady Dowager proposed, “Let’s begin with a few cups of wine. It would be fun to play a drinking game.”
“I know you’re good at drinking games, madam,” chuckled Aunt Xue. “But how can we play them? If you just want to get us drunk, let’s simply drink a few cups more apiece.”
“How modest you are today!” retorted the Lady Dowager. “Do you find me too old for this company?”
“I’m not being modest. I’m afraid of getting laughed at for giving the wrong answer.”
“Even if we can’t answer,” interposed Lady Wang, “it only means drinking an extra cup. And anyone feeling tipsy can go and lie down. No one will laugh at us.”
“Very well then,” Aunt Xue agreed. “But you must start off with a cup, madam.”
“Of course.”
The Lady Dowager drained her cup.
Xifeng stepped forward to propose, “If we’re to have a game, let Yuan-yang take charge.”
The whole party agreed, knowing that it was always Yuanyang who made the rules for the old lady’s drinking games. So Xifeng made her join them.
“If you’re joining in, there’s no reason why you should stand,” said Lady Wang. She then ordered a young maid to fetch a chair and put it by Xifeng’s or Li Wan’s table.
After making a show of declining, Yuanyang took the seat with thanks and drank a cup, after which she announced:
“Drinking rules are as strict as martial law. Now that I’m in charge I’ll be no respecter of persons—anybody who disobeys me must pay a forfeit.”
The others smiled and Lady Wang said, “Of course. Hurry up and tell us the rules.”
But before Yuanyang could speak Granny Liu left her seat, waving one hand in protest.
“Don’t make fun of me like this. I’m leaving,” she declared. “That won’t do,” chuckled the others.
Yuanyang ordered some maids to drag Granny Liu back to her table. They did so, giggling, while she pleaded to be let off.
“Anybody who speaks out of turn again will be made to drink a whole pot of wine,” warned Yuanyang.
At this the old woman held her peace.
“I shall use three dominoes,” announced Yuanyang. “We’ll start with the old lady and go round in turn, ending with Granny Liu. For example, I’ll take a set of three dominoes and read out what’s on each of the three in turn, ending with the name of the set. You must say either a line of classical poetry, a proverb or an adage
after each; and they must rhyme. A cup of wine is the forfeit for any mistake.”
Laughingly they all approved and begged her to start.
“Here’s a set,” said Yuanyang. “On the left is the ‘sky’.”
“The sky is blue on high,” responded the Lady Dowager.
“Bravo!” applauded the others.
“In the centre’s a ‘five and six,’“ Yuanyang continued.
“Six bridges with the scent of plum admix.”
“The last piece is ‘six and one.’“
“From fleecy clouds rises a round red sun.”
“Together they make a ‘ghost distraught.’“
“By his leg the ghost-catcher he’s caught.”
While the whole party laughed and cheered, the Lady Dowager tossed off a cup of wine.
Then Yuanyang resumed, “Here’s another set. The one on the left is a ‘double five.’“
Aunt Xue responded: “Plum blossom dances when soft winds arrive.”
“A ‘double five’ again here on the right.”
“In the tenth month plum blossom scents the height.”
“In the middle ‘two and five’ make seven.”
“The Weaving Maid and Cowherd meet in Heaven.”
“The whole: O’er the Five Peaks the young god wends his way.”
“Immortal joys are barred to mortal clay.” All applauded Aunt Xue’s performance and she drank a cup. “Here’s another set,” said Yuanyang. “On the left ‘two aces’ combine.”
Xiangyun capped this: “The sun and moon on earth and heaven shine.” Yuanyang continued, “On the right ‘double aces’ are found.”
“The idle flowers fall, noiseless, to the ground.”
“In the middle, a ‘four and a one.’“
“Red apricot leans on clouds beside the sun.”
“Together: The cherries ripen nine times in all.”
“Birds in the Palace orchard make them fall.” Her turn finished, Xiangyun drained her cup.
“Next one,” said Yuanyang. “On the left is a ‘double three.’“