A Dream of Red Mansion

by Cao Xueqin

  “Never mind who they are,” stormed Baoyu tearfully. “No one but Cousin Daiyu should have the name Lin.”

  “There are no Lins here,” repeated the old lady. “They’re all been driven away.” She ordered the attendants, “In future don’t let Lin Zhixiao’s wife into the Garden. And never mention the name Lin again. Mind you all do as I say like good children.”

  Suppressing their smiles at this, the others assented.

  Baoyu’s eye now fell on a golden boat with an engine, a toy from the West, which was on his cabinet.

  “Isn’t that the boat coming to fetch them?” he shouted, pointing at it. “It’s mooring there.”

  The Lady Dowager ordered its instant removal, and when Baoyu reached out for it Xiren gave it to him. He tucked it under his bedding.

  “Now they won’t be able to sail away,” he laughed. Seizing tight hold of Zijuan he refused to let her go.

  At this point Doctor Wang was announced, and the old lady ordered him to be brought straight in. Lady Wang, Aunt Xue and Baochai withdrew to the inner room while the Lady Dowager seated herself by Baoyu. When Doctor Wang found such a company assembled, he paid his respects to the Lady Dowager before taking Baoyu’s hand to feel his pulse, while Zijuan had to stand there with lowered head, to the doctor’s astonishment.

  Presently the doctor rose and declared, “The trouble with our honourable brother is that some sharp distress has clouded his mind. According to the ancients, ‘Disorders of the phlegm take different forms: indigestion owing to a weak constitution, derangement brought on by a sudden fit of anger, and obstruction caused by sudden distress.’ This is a disorder of the third kind. It is only a temporary blockage, however, less serious than the other types.”

  “Just tell us if he’s in danger or not,” urged the Lady Dowager. “Who wants to hear this recital of medical lore?”

  Doctor Wang bowed.

  “He is in no danger, no.”

  “Is that really true?” she persisted.

  “There is really no danger, madam, I give you my word.”

  “In that case, please take a seat in the outer room to make out your prescription. If you cure him, I shall prepare presents to show my gratitude and send him to kowtow to you in person. If you delay his recovery, though, I shall send to tear down the main hall of your Academy of Imperial Physicians!”

  The doctor bowed again.

  “You are too good, too good!”

  For he had heard only the first part of her speech and not the jocular threat with which it concluded. He went on protesting his unworthiness until the old lady and all the rest burst out laughing.

  When the medicine had been prepared according to the prescription and Baoyu had taken it, he did indeed calm down a little. He still refused to let go of Zijuan, however.

  “If she leaves here, they’ll go back to Suzhou!” he cried.

  The Lady Dowager and Lady Wang had perforce to let Zijuan stay there. They dispatched Hupo in her place to look after Daiyu, who from time to time sent Xueyan over to ask for news and was deeply moved when she learned all that had happened.

  As everyone knew how cranky Baoyu was, and how close he and Daiyu had been since they were children, they took Zijuan’s joke as quite natural and his illness as nothing out of the way either, not suspecting anything else.

  That evening, as Baoyu was quieter, his grandmother and mother returned to their own quarters but sent several times during the night for reports from the sickroom. Nanny Li, Mrs. Song and some other matrons nursed the patient devotedly, while Zijuan, Xiren and Qingwen watched day and night by his bedside. Whenever he slept he had nightmares, and would wake up crying that Daiyu had gone or that people had come to fetch her. Each time this happened Zijuan had to comfort him.

  Now his grandmother had Baoyu given all sorts of rare medicine-pills to dispel evil influences and powders to clear the mind. And the next day, after more of Doctor Wang’s medicine, his condition gradually improved; but although he was in his right senses again, he pretended from time to time to be delirious in order to keep Zijuan with him. As for her, thoroughly repenting the mischief she had caused she served him day and night without a murmur.

  Xiren, herself once more, told her, “As you’re the one to blame for this, it’s up to you to cure him. I’ve never seen such a simpleton as our young master, the way he catches at shadows. What’s to become of him?” But enough of this.

  By now Xiangyun was better, and she came every day to see Baoyu. Finding that he had recovered his faculties she mimicked his crazy behaviour during his illness until, lying on his pillow, he had to laugh. Having no idea himself of what had passed, he could hardly believe what was told him.

  When no one else was about but Zijuan, he took her hand. “Why did you frighten me?” he asked.

  “I only did it for fun,” she replied. “But you took it seriously.”

  “You made it sound so convincing, how was I to know it was just a joke?” he retorted.

  “Well, I made the whole thing up. There’s really no one left in the Lin family except for some very distant relatives who no longer live in Suzhou but are scattered in different provinces. Even if one of them asked for her, the old lady would never let her go.”

  “Even if the old lady would let her go, I wouldn’t.”

  “You wouldn’t!” Zijuan laughed. “That’s just talk, I’m afraid. You’re growing up now and already engaged; in a couple of years you’ll be marrying, and then you’ll forget other people.”

  “Who’s engaged?” asked Baoyu in dismay. “To whom?”

  “Before New Year I heard the old lady say she wanted to engage Miss Baoqin to you. Why else would she make such a favourite of her?”

  He laughed.

  “People may call me crazy, but you’re even crazier! That was just a joke. She’s already engaged to the son of Academician Mei. If I were engaged to her, would I be in this state? Didn’t you plead with me and say I was mad when I swore that oath and wanted to smash that silly jade? Now you’ve come to provoke me again just as I’m getting better.” Through clenched teeth he added. “I only wish I could die this very minute and tear out my heart to show you. Then all the rest of me, skin and bones, could be turned into ashes—no, ashes still have form— better be turned into smoke. But smoke still congeals and can be seen by men—it would have to be scattered in a flash, by a great wind, to the four quarters. That would be a good death.” Tears were running down his cheeks as he spoke.

  Zijuan hastily put her hand to his mouth, then wiped away his tears. “You needn’t worry,” she urged. “I was putting you to the test because I was worried.”

  “You worried? Why?” he asked in surprise. “You know I don’t belong to the Lin family. Like Xiren and Yuanyang, I was given to Miss Lin. And she couldn’t have been kinder to me. She treats me ten times better than her own maids brought from Suzhou; we don’t like being parted for a single moment. I’m worried now because, if she leaves, I shall have to go with her; but my whole family’s here. If I don’t go, I’ll be unworthy of all her goodness; if I do, I shall have to abandon my own people. That’s why, in my dilemma, I told you that fib to see how you felt about it. How was I to know you’d take it so hard?”

  “So that’s what’s worrying you,” Baoyu chuckled. “What a goose you are! Well, set your heart at rest. Let me just put it in a nutshell for you. If we live, we shall live together; and if we die, we shall turn into ashes and smoke together. What do you say to that?”

  Zijuan was turning this over in her mind when suddenly Jia Huan and Jia Lan were announced. They had called to ask after Baoyu.

  “Thank them for coming,” he said. “But tell them I’ve just gone to bed and they needn’t trouble to come in.”

  The woman who had brought the message assented and left. “Now that you’re better you should let me go back to see my own patient,” said Zijuan.

  “I know,” he replied. “I meant to send you yesterday, but then I forgot. Go along then, s
ince I’m completely well again.”

  She set about bundling together her bedding and dressing-cases. “I see several mirrors in your cases,” he commented laughingly. “Will you leave me that small one? I can keep it by my pillow to use in bed, and it will come in handy when I go out.”

  Zijuan had to do as he asked. Having sent her things on ahead, she took her leave of everyone and went back to Bamboo Lodge.

  The news of Baoyu’s disorder had made Daiyu suffer a relapse and brought on many bouts of weeping. Now she asked Zijuan why she had returned and, learning that he was better, sent Hupo back to wait on the Lady Dowager.

  That night, when all was quiet and Zijuan had undressed and lain down, she whispered to Daiyu:

  “Baoyu’s heart is really true to you. Fancy his falling ill like that when he heard we were leaving!”

  Daiyu made no answer to this.

  Presently Zijuan went on, half to herself, “Moving isn’t as good as staying put. This is a good family anyway. It’s the hardest thing in the world to find people who’ve grown up together and know each other’s

  character and ways.

  “Aren’t you tired after the last few days?” scoffed Daiyu. “Why don’t you sleep instead of talking such nonsense?”

  “It isn’t nonsense. I was thinking of you. I’ve felt worried for you all these years with no father, mother or brothers to care for you. The important thing is to settle the main affair of your life in good time, while the old lady’s still clear-headed and healthy. The proverb says, ‘The healthiest old people last as long as a chilly spring or a hot autumn.’ If anything should happen to the old lady your marriage might be delayed, or else not turn out in the way you hoped.

  “There’s no lack of young lordlings, but they all want three wives and five concubines and their affections change from one day to the next. They may bring home a wife as lovely as a fairy, yet after four or five nights they cast her off, treating her like an enemy for the sake of a concubine or a slave girl. If her family’s large and powerful, that’s not so bad; and for someone like you, miss, so long as the old lady lives you’ll be all right. Once she’s gone, you’ll have to put up with ill treatment. So it’s important to make up your mind. You’ve sense enough to understand the saying, ‘The thousand taels of gold are easier come by than an understanding heart.’“

  “The girl’s crazy!” exclaimed Daiyu. “A few days away, and you’ve suddenly changed into a different person. Tomorrow I shall ask the old lady to take you back. I no longer dare keep you.”

  “I meant well,” was the smiling answer. “I just wanted you to look out for yourself, not to do anything wrong. What good will it do if you report me to the old lady and get me into trouble?” With that Zijuan closed her eyes.

  Although Daiyu had spoken so sharply, this talk had distressed her. After Zijuan went to sleep she wept all night, no dozing off until dawn. The next morning she found it an effort to wash herself, rinse her mouth and swallow her bird’s-nest broth. Then the Lady Dowager and others called to see her and urged her to take better care of herself.

  That day was Aunt Xue’s birthday. Everyone from the Lady Dowager down gave her presents, and Daiyu also sent over two pieces of her own embroidery. Aunt Xue had hired a company of actresses and at her invitation the old lady, Lady Wang and the whole family except Baoyu and Daiyu went to watch the performance. On their way back from it that evening, the Lady Dowager and others dropped in to see the two patients again.

  The next day Aunt Xue made Xue Ke keep their shop assistants company at a whole day’s feasting. The celebrations lasted for three or four days.

  Now Aunt Xue had been struck by Xiuyan’s dignity and refinement; and as the girl was poor, having “only a thorn for a hair-pin, and plain cloth for a skirt,” her habits were frugal. Thus Aunt Xue thought of betrothing her to her son. After some hesitation, however, she decided it would not be fair to the girl to marry her to a profligate like Xue Pan, and it occurred to her that Xiuyan and Xue Ke who was still unmarried would make a perfect match. She broached the subject to Xifeng.

  “You know how crotchety my mother-in-law is, auntie,” said Xifeng with a sigh. “You must give me time to manage it.”

  When the Lady Dowager called to see Xifeng, the matter was broached to her.

  “Aunt Xue has something to ask our Old Ancestress, but doesn’t know how to put it.”

  “What is it?” asked the old lady. Xifeng explained the marriage proposal.

  “Where’s the difficulty?” The old lady smiled. “Nothing could please me better. Let me tell your mother-in-law and she’s sure to agree.”

  Once back in her own apartments, she sent immediately to ask Lady Xing over and proposed the match herself. Since the Xues came of fairly good Stock and were now very wealthy, while Xue Ke was a handsome young man, and the go-between, moreover, was no less a person than the Lady Dowager, a moment’s thought convinced Lady Xing that this would be to her advantage. So she agreed.

  The Lady Dowager in high delight promptly asked Aunt Xue to come over, and there was the usual exchange of polite formalities between both parties. Lady Xing lost no time in informing her brother Xing Zhong and his wife; and since they had come there to throw themselves upon her bounty, they were naturally more than happy to give their approval.

  “I love meddling in other people’s affairs,” said the Lady Dowager. “Now that I’ve fixed this up, how much are you going to pay your go-between?”

  “Don’t worry about that,” replied Aunt Xue. “Even if we brought you a hundred thousand taels of silver, I don’t suppose it would mean much to you. But since you’re the go-between, madam, will you find us someone to take charge of the betrothal ceremony?”

  “Whatever else we’re short of, we can produce one or two helpers of a sort, “the old lady chuckled.

  She sent for Jia Zhen’s wife and daughter-in-law. When they heard the news from her they offered their congratulations.

  “You know our family ways,” she told Madam You. “The two families never squabble over betrothal gifts. You must handle this business for me, neither too stingily nor too lavishly. Report to me when everything is arranged.”

  As soon as Madam You accepted this task, Aunt Xue went home overjoyed to write invitation cards for the Ning Mansion.

  Madam You knew Lady Xing’s cantankerous temper and would have preferred to have nothing to do with the business, but she had to fall in with the old lady’s wishes. She did her best to please Lady Xing, aware that Aunt Xue was so easygoing there would be no problem there. But enough of this.

  Now that the whole household knew that Xiuyan was to marry Aunt Xue’s nephew, Lady Xing wanted to move her out of the Garden.

  “What does it matter if she stays?” demurred the Lady Dowager. “There’s no danger of the two young people meeting, and it shouldn’t worry you if she sees Aunt Xue and the two cousins of the other family every day. They’re all girls, aren’t they? They may as well get to know each other better.”

  Lady Xing made no further objection then.

  Xue Ke and Xiuyan had met once previously on their way to the capital, and in all probability they were pleased enough with the match; but naturally this made Xiuyan more reserved and tongue-tied in the presence of Baochai and the rest of the girls. She felt specially shy with Xiangyun, who was such a tease. But being a well-brought up girl of some education, she showed no false modesty or silly coyness.

  Baochai had realized from the start that Xiuyan’s family was poor, and while the other girls’ parents were respectable old people hers were penniless nobodies who cared little for their daughter; Lady Xing had no genuine feeling for her either, simply making a show of affection. And Xiuyan had a sense of self-respect. As Yingchun was too feeble even to take care of herself, let alone look after her cousin, whenever Xiuyan ran short of any daily necessities there was no one to see to it, and she was too unassuming to mention it. Baochai accordingly often helped her in secret, not letting Lady Xing know
for fear of giving offence, with the result that now that this unexpected match had been arranged Xiuyan felt even more closely bound to Baochai than to Xue Ke. She often went to chat with her, and Baochai continued to address her as “cousin.”

  One day Baochai set out to call on Daiyu. Happening to meet Xiuyan on the way, she beckoned her with a smile and they walked on together. As they skirted the back of a rockery, Baochai inquired:

  “Why have you changed out of padded clothes into lined ones, when the weather is still so cold?”

  Xiuyan hung her head and said nothing.

  Sensing some reason for this Baochai continued, “Don’t tell me this month’s allowance was held up again? Cousin Xifeng really is growing rather thoughtless.”

  “She issued it on the right date,” rejoined Xiuyan. “But my aunt sent to tell me I shouldn’t need two taels a month and must save one for my parents. She said if I was short of anything I could borrow from Yingchun and make do. But, you see, Yingchun is a simple soul who doesn’t always think. She wouldn’t mind my using her things, but those maids and nannies of hers are all troublemakers—you know what sharp tongues they have. Though I’m staying there, I dare not order them about; in fact, every few days I have to spend money on wine and cakes for them. I can’t manage even on two taels a month, and now it’s been cut to one. So the other day I got someone, on the sly, to pawn my padded clothes for a few strings of cash.”

  Hearing this, Baochai frowned and sighed in sympathy.

  “It’s too bad that the Mei family have all gone to the new post and won’t be back in the capital till the year after next,” she said. “If they were here, we could arrange Baoqin’s wedding and then yours. Once you leave here you’ll be all right. The trouble is that Xue Ke won’t consider getting married before his young sister; yet if you have to put up with two more years of this, I’m afraid it may ruin your health. I must talk to my mother and see what can be done.

  “If people bully you, just keep your temper and on no account fall ill. Actually you may just as well give them the other tael too, so that they stop pestering you; then you needn’t treat those creatures for nothing. If they make scathing remarks, just pretend not to hear and go about your own business. When you’re short of anything just apply to me. Don’t be finicky. It’s not because you’re engaged now to one of our family that I want you to treat me as your relative. Didn’t we become friends as soon as you arrived here? If you are afraid of gossip, just send your maid quietly to pass on messages to me.”