by Cao Xueqin
Xiuyan lowered her head and assented.
Then Baochai pointed at the green jade pendant hanging from her skirt.
“Who gave you that?”
“It’s a present from Cousin Tanchun.”
Baochai nodded.
“She must have noticed that you were the only one with no jade to wear; so to stop people laughing at you she gave you this. It shows how thoughtful and observant she is. Still, you should know that trinkets like these are only worn in big official families of rich nobles. Just look at me. Do I wear such magnificent ornaments? Seven or eight years ago I did, but not now that our family position’s changed. I economize whenever I can. In future, when you come to our family, I dare say you’ll find a whole chest of such trash still there. But nowadays our family’s not like theirs. We should after all dress more simply, not copy them.”
“If that’s how you feel, sister, I’ll go back and take it off.”
“No, that’s not what I meant,” disclaimed Baochai hastily. “Since she was kind enough to give you this, if you don’t wear it she’ll wonder why. I just happened to mention the matter for you to bear in mind later.”
Xiuyan assented, then asked her where she was going.
“To Bamboo Lodge,” Baochai told her. “Slip back and send a maid over to our place with the pawn ticket. I’ll have the clothes redeemed quietly and sent to you this evening, so that you have something warm to wear; otherwise you’ll catch cold, and that would never do. Which shop is it, by the way?”
“A shop called Heng Shu on the main road west of the Drum Tower.”
“It happens to belong to our family.” Baochai smiled. “If the shop assistants knew they’d say, ‘Before the bride is fetched her clothes have arrived.’“
Xiuyan blushed when she realized that it was one of the Xues’ shops. Making no answer she went away with a smile.
At Bamboo Lodge, Baochai found her mother chatting with Daiyu.
“When did you get here, mother?” she asked. “I didn’t know you were coming.”
“I’ve been too busy till today to call to see her and Baoyu,” said Aunt Xue. “And now I find both of them are well again.”
Daiyu offered Baochai a seat. “Life is certainly full of surprises,” she said to her. “Take Aunt Xue and my Eldest Aunt, for instance. They’re going to be linked more closely still by marriage.”
“What do girls like you know about such things, child?” replied Aunt Xue. “There’s an old saying: ‘People a thousand It apart may be linked by marriage.’ It’s all the doing of the Old Man of the Moon. If he’s secretly fastened his red thread around the ankles of two young people, not even the ocean or a whole country, or even a family feud for generations can stop them from becoming husband and wife. It always comes as a surprise.
“On the other hand, if the Old Man of the Moon doesn’t do his part, even if the parents on both sides are willing and the young people have been brought up together and think themselves destined for each other, they’ll never be united.
“Take the case of you two girls. We don’t yet know whether you’ll marry someone close at hand or beyond mountains and seas.”
“Mother always drags us in!” protested Baochai. Resting her head against her mother’s breast she asked laughingly, “Shall we go now?”
“Look at her,” teased Daiyu. “Such a big girl, and when you’re not around, aunt, she looks very dignified; but when she’s with you she acts just like a baby.”
Caressing her daughter Aunt Xue told Daiyu, “This child means as much to me as Xifeng does to the old lady. When I’ve serious business, I consult her; when there’s none, she amuses me. When I see her like this all my troubles melt away.”
Tears came into Daiyu’s eyes.
“She’s doing this on purpose here, to wound me by reminding me that I’ve no mother.”
“Look, mother!” cried Baochai gaily. “Who’s acting like a baby now?”
“You can’t blame here for being upset,” replied Aunt Xue. “She has no parents, poor thing, no one to care for her.” She turned then to caress Daiyu as well. “Don’t cry, there’s a good child,” she urged. “It upsets you to see how fond I am of your cousin, but I love you even more if you only knew it. She’s better off than you, because though she’s lost her father she at least has me and her brother. I’ve often told her I can’t show how fond I am of you, for fear of the gossip it would cause. People like to put the worst interpretation on things. Instead of admitting that you’ve no one to turn to and behave in a way to make everybody love you, they’d accuse me of being good to you just because you’re the old lady’s favourite—so as to please her.”
“If you really love me, aunt, will you be my foster-mother?” pleaded Daiyu .”If you turn me down, that means you aren’t in earnest.”
“I’m willing, if you think I’m good enough.”
“No, that wouldn’t do,” put in Baochai.
“Why not?” Daiyu wanted to know.
“Let me ask you a question,” retorted Baochai with a smile, “why is Xiuyan engaged to my younger cousin before my brother’s engaged?”
“Because he’s not at home, I suppose. Or because the horoscopes don’t match.”
“No, it’s because my brother has already set his mind on someone, and it’ll be fixed up as soon as he returns. I needn’t name any names. Why did I say you couldn’t take her as your mother? Just work it out for yourself!” She winked at her mother and laughed.
Daiyu buried her face in Aunt Xue’s lap protesting. “Aunt, if you don’t spank her, I won’t let her go!”
Aunt Xue put her arms round her and smiled. “Don’t believe a word of it. She’s only teasing.”
“But honestly!” Baochai giggled. “Mother’s going to ask the old lady for your hand tomorrow. Why waste time looking elsewhere?” Daiyu lunged out at her laughing, “You crazy thing!” Aunt Xue hastily parted them and told Baochai, “I think even Xiuyan’s too good for that brother of yours, that’s why I asked for her for your cousin instead. How could I dream of giving your brother this child?”
“The other day, the old lady wanted your cousin Baoqin for Baoyu; and if she hadn’t happened to be engaged it would have been a good match. When I fixed things up for Xiuyan the old lady quipped, I wanted one of your girls, but you’ve got one of ours instead.’ There’s something in that although she was only joking. Baoqin is engaged and I’ve no girl for her, but I can make a suggestion. Since the old lady is so fond of Baoyu and he’s such a handsome boy, she’ll never agree to a wife from outside for him. Then why not engage him to Daiyu? Wouldn’t that please everyone?”
Daiyu had been listening intently, but now, at the mention of her own name, she spat in disgust and grabbed hold of Baochai.
“I’m going to teach you a lesson!” she cried, her cheeks burning. “Why should you provoke my aunt into rambling on in such an indelicate way?”
“That’s strange.” Baochai laughed. “Why spank me for something my mother said?”
Zijuan ran up to them and cried laughingly, “Since you have this idea, madam, why not propose it to the mistress?”
“What’s the hurry, child?” asked Aunt Xue teasingly. “I suppose the sooner your mistress is married off, the sooner you can find yourself a young husband.”
Zijuan flushed and flashed back, “You’re presuming on your age, madam!” With that she flung off.
“What has this to do with you?” scolded Daiyu, and then laughed too at her discomfiture. “Amida Buddha! Serves her right!”
Aunt Xue, Baochai and all the attendants present joined in the merriment. Then some of the older maids said cheerfully:
“Though it was just said in fun, it’s a good idea. We hope, madam, when you have time, you’ll discuss this with the old lady. You can volunteer to be the go-between, then this marriage is bound to come off.”
“Yes,” agreed Aunt Xue. “If I make this suggestion, the old lady’s sure to be pleased.”
As they
were talking Xiangyun came in, a pawn ticket in her hand.
“What’s this certificate for?” she asked.
Daiyu had a look but did not know what it was.
“It’s something marvellous,” the matrons laughed. “But we won’t teach you for nothing.”
Baochai took it and saw that it was the pawn ticket Xiuyan had mentioned. She hastily folded it up.
“It must be a pawn ticket some old nurse has lost,” suggested Aunt Xue. “She’ll be frantic when she can’t find it.”
“A pawn ticket? What’s that?” asked Xiangyun.
Everybody laughed.
“Little simpleton! She doesn’t even know what a pawn ticket is.”
“That’s quite natural,” remarked Aunt Xue. “As the daughter of a noble house, and still young, how could she know of such things? Where would she have seen one? Even if some one in their household had one, she wouldn’t set eyes on it. So don’t you go calling her a simpleton. If you showed your young mistresses this, that would make them all simpletons too.”
“Just now Miss Lin didn’t know it either,” agreed the women. “And not only the young ladies. We’d be surprised if Baoyu ever set eyes on such a thing, though he often goes outside.”
Aunt Xue then explained to Xiangyun and Daiyu what a pawn ticket was.
“So that’s it!” they exclaimed. “How clever people are at making money! Is your family shop the same, aunt?”
“Listen to them!” Everyone laughed. “‘All crows are black the world over.’ How could their shop be any different?”
“Where did you find this?” asked Aunt Xue.
Before Xiangyun could answer, Baochai put in, “This ticket has expired. It was cancelled years ago. Xiangling must have given it them for fun.”
Her mother, believing this, let the matter drop.
Just then someone reported that the mistress of the other house had called to see Aunt Xue, and she went home. When the others had left as well, Baochai asked Xiangyun where she had found the ticket.
“I saw your future sister-in-law’s maid Zhuaner slip it to Yinger, who tucked it between the pages of a book, thinking I hadn’t noticed. As soon as they’d gone I took a peep at it, but couldn’t guess what it was. Knowing you were all here I brought it along to show you.”
“Can she be pawning her things?” asked Daiyu. “If so, why send you this ticket?”
Realizing that she could no longer hide the truth from them, Baochai explained what had happened. Daiyu exclaimed in distress and sympathy, but Xiangyun grew most indignant.
“Wait till I go and take this up with Yingchun,” she fumed. “I shall give those matrons and maids a piece of my mind. Won’t that help us to get our own back?”
Baochai caught hold of her as she was starting off.
“Are you out of your mind again?” she cried. “Sit down.”
“If you were a man, you could go out and right wrongs,” teased Daiyu. “But you’re not a Jing Ke or a Nie Zheng. Don’t be ridiculous.”
“If you won’t let me have this out with them, shall we ask Xiuyan to come and stay with us in our apartments?” rejoined Xiangyun.
“We can discuss that later.” Baochai smiled.
Tanchun and Xichun being announced at this point, they made haste to change the subject. If you want to know the upshot, read the next chapter.
Chapter 58
Under the Shade of an Apricot Tree an Actress Mourns Her Stage Lover
The Master of Happy Red Court Sympathizes with the Girl’s Infatuation
The subject of conversation was changed at the arrival of Tanchun and Xichun. The newcomers having asked after Daiyu’s health, they all chatted for a while before dispersing.
Now the demise of the Grand Imperial Concubine mentioned earlier was announced, and all titled ladies were required to go to court to mourn according to their rank. Nobles throughout the empire were forbidden feasting and music for a year, while common citizens were debarred from marrying for three months.
The Lady Dowager, Lady Xing, Lady Wang, Madam You and her daughter-in-law nee Xu—grandparents as well as grand-children of the Jia family—had to go to court every morning when sacrifice was offered, not returning until two in the afternoon. After twenty-one days of lying in state in the Great Inner Court of the Side Palace, the coffin would be conveyed to the Imperial Mausoleum in the county called Xiaoci; and as this was some ten days’ journey from the capital, and the coffin would have to wait there for several days before it could be interred in the underground palace, the whole proceedings would occupy nearly one month.
By rights, Jia Zhen and his wife of the Ning Mansion should both have assisted at these obsequies; but as that would have left no one in charge at home, after much discussion they decided to beg leave from the court for Madam You on the plea that she was with child, so that she could take over the supervision of the two mansions.
Aunt Xue, having been prevailed upon to keep an eye on the girls and maids in the Garden, now had to move in there too. But at this juncture Baochai had Xiangyun and Xiangling with her; Li Wan, although her aunt and her aunt’s two daughters were not staying with her, received visits from them every few days, and she had been entrusted with Baoqin as well by the Lady Dowager; Yingchun had Xiuyan; Tanchun’s apartments were not convenient either, as she was so occupied with household affairs and the trouble caused by Concubine Zhao and Jia Huan; and Xichun’s space was limited. Besides, as the old lady had asked Aunt Xue to take special care of Daiyu, for whom she herself felt the deepest sympathy, under the circumstances she naturally moved into Bamboo Lodge where she shared Daiyu’s room and kept a strict eye on the girl’s medicine and diet. Daiyu was more grateful for this than words can tell. She began to treat Aunt Xue as her own mother and Baochai and Baoqin as her sisters, feeling closer to them than to all the other girls, to the Lady Dowager’s great satisfaction.
Aunt Xue simply looked after the girls and controlled the younger maids, however, not interfering with other family business. And though Madam You came over every day she dealt only with routine matters, careful not to overstep her authority. In any case she was too busy, for besides being in sole charge of the Ning Mansion she had to see to the daily food and supplies for the Lady Dowager and Lady Wang in the hostel where they were staying.
While those in charge of the two mansions had their hands full in this way, all the chief stewards were busy too—those who had not left earlier to look for lodgings for their masters and mistresses during the funeral ceremonies, either accompanied their masters to court or were busy handling jobs in their hostel outside. And in the absence of proper supervision, the servants of both mansions slacked or ganged up under the provisory chief stewards to abuse their power. The only stewards left in the Rong Mansion were Lai Da and a few in charge of outside business. Deprived of his usual assistants, Lai Da delegated authority to some ignorant rogues who proved far from satisfactory, cheating him and sending in false accusations or recommendations. But we need not dwell here on all the trouble they caused.
As other official families were now disbanding their private opera troupes, Madam You and the others decided that when Lady Wang came home they would suggest dispensing with the services of their twelve child-actresses too.
“We bought those girls,” they told her, “so even if we stop training them we can keep them on as maids, just dismissing their instructors.”
“We can’t treat them as servants,” objected Lady Wang. “They’re the daughters of respectable families, whose parents being unable to make a living sold them into this low trade to dress up as ghosts and demons for several years. Here’s our chance to give them a few taels of silver as travelling-expenses would be unkind, and niggardly too. We still have a few old actresses here, it’s true, but they had their own reasons for not wanting to leave, which is why we kept them on as attendants and eventually married them to our own servants.”
“Let’s find out which of these twelve girls want to go home,”
proposed Madam You. “Then we can send word to their parents to come and fetch them and give them a few taels of silver as travelling-expenses. But we must make sure that it’s their parents who come for them, not some scoundrels who pretend to be their kinsmen and take them off merely to sell them all over again. For in that case, wouldn’t our kindness come to nothing? Anyone who doesn’t want to leave can stay.”
When Lady Wang approved, Madam You sent to inform Xifeng and ordered the steward in charge to give each of the instructors an eight-tael gratuity with free permission to leave. Everything in Pear Fragrance Court was inventoried and put away, and some servants were appointed to guard the place at night.
More than half the twelve young actresses, when summoned and questioned, proved reluctant to go home. Some said that their parents were only out to make money, and if they went back they would be sold again; others that their parents were dead, and they had been sold by their uncles or their brothers; others that they had nowhere to go; yet others that they had no wish to leave this family which had been so good to them. In all, only four or five elected to leave.
When Lady Wang heard this she had to keep them. The few who chose to leave were instructed to stay with their foster-mothers until their own parents should come for them. Of those who chose to remain, Wenguan was kept by the Lady Dowager, most of the rest being sent to different apartments in the Garden. Fangguan who played the part of young ladies was assigned to Baoyu; Ruiguan who played pert maids to Baochai; Ouguan who played young gentlemen to Daiyu; Kuiguan who played the chief warriors to Xiangyun; Douguan who played lesser warriors to Baoqin; and Aiguan who played old men to Tanchun. Madam You then took Jiaguan whose role was old women.