A Dream of Red Mansion

by Cao Xueqin

  Siqi sank to her knees again.

  “My cousin,” she faltered.

  Yuanyang spat in disgust.

  “How could you?”

  Siqi turned and hissed, “It’s no use hiding. Sister’s seen you. Come here quick and kowtow to her.”

  At that the page boy had to crawl out from behind the tree to thump his head vigorously on the ground. Yuanyang wanted to hurry away, but Siqi caught hold of her and begged through her sobs:

  “Our lives are in your hands, sister. Do, please, let us off!”

  “Don’t worry,” said Yuanyang. “I won’t tell a soul.”

  As she was speaking they heard someone at the side gate call, “Miss Jin’s left. Lock the gate.”

  Yuanyang, unable to shake off Siqi’s grip, promptly called out, “I’m still here. Just wait a bit, I’ll be leaving in a minute.”

  Then Siqi had to let her go.

  To know what came of this, read on.

  Chapter 72

  Xifeng Puts up a Bold Front, Ashamed to Admit Her Illness

  Lai Wang’s Wife Relies on Her Mistress’ Power to Force Through a Match for Her Son

  Yuanyang left the side gate still blushing, in a flutter after this shock. “This is serious!” she thought. “If it got out, the charge of lewdness linked with theft might even cost them their lives besides involving other people. Well, as it’s no concern of mine, I’d better keep it to myself and not tell a soul.” So on her return she simply reported that she had passed on the Lady Dowager’s orders, after which they all went to bed. After this Yuanyang seldom went to the Garden after dark; and reflecting that if even the Garden was the scene of such strange carryings-on, other places must be still worse, she went nowhere else either if she could avoid it.

  Now Siqi and her cousin had been playmates as children and vowed in fun to marry no one else. Both of them had now grown up good-looking, and whenever Siqi went home they would exchange glances, recalling their former feeling for each other although neither could make open overtures. Besides, they feared their parents’ disapproval. So they had bribed the women in charge of the Garden gate to leave it open, and taking advantage of today’s confusion had had their first rendezvous. Although they had not made love, they had secretly exchanged solemn vows and pledges, baring their hearts to each other. Their sudden discovery by Yuanyang had made the boy run off through the flowers and willows to slip out by the side gate.

  Siqi, repenting too late, could not sleep that night. The next day when she saw Yuanyang she turned red and white by turns in an agony of embarrassment and guilt. She lost her appetite and grew quite bemused. But when two days passed without any repercussions she began to feel somewhat easier in her mind.

  That evening, however, one of the matrons came to tell her in confidence, “Your cousin’s skedaddled. He hasn’t been home for three or four days and a search is being made for him everywhere.”

  Distraught by this news Siqi thought, “Even if there’s a scandal we ought to die together. Of course, being a man he can go anywhere he wants to. How heartless he is!” This embittered her so much that the next day she felt too upset to bear up. Ill with frustration she took to her bed.

  When Yuanyang learned that a page in the Jia household had fled and Siqi was asking to go home on sick leave, she knew they were afraid of the consequences if she disclosed their secret. As this preyed on her mind, she went to see Siqi. After sending everyone else out of the room, she gave the girl her solemn word:

  “I’ll die before I breathe a word about this. Just stop worrying and nurse your illness. Don’t risk your little life like this, child!”

  Siqi caught her by the arm.

  “Sister, we’ve been on good terms since we were children,” she sobbed. “You’ve never treated me as an outsider and I’ve always respected you. Now if you’ll really keep my slip-up a secret, I shall look on you as my own mother—for I’ll owe every day that I live to you. If I get well, I shall set up a shrine to you and burn incense and bow to it every day to pray for good fortune and long life for you. If I die, I’ll become a donkey or a dog so as to repay your kindness. ‘Even the longest feast must break up at last,’ says the proverb. In two or three years we shall all be leaving this place. Still, even floating weeds may come together again, much more so human beings. And if we do meet again I shall try to repay your goodness.” She shed tears as she spoke.

  By now Yuanyang was weeping in sympathy.

  Nodding she said, “All right. I’m not in charge, so why should I spoil your good name? Why be so officious? In any case, I could never bring myself to speak of such a thing. So don’t you worry. When you’re better you must behave more circumspectly and not carry on like that.”

  Siqi propped on her pillow nodded repeatedly, and after more reassurances Yuanyang left.

  As she knew that Jia Lian was away and these last few days Xifeng had looked out of sorts, quite unlike her usual self, on the way back she called to see her. When she entered the courtyard the servants at the inner gate stood up to let her in, and as she stepped into the hall Pinger came out of the bedroom and approached her.

  “She’s just had a bite to eat and is having a nap,” Pinger whispered. “Won’t you wait in the other room for a while?” She took her to the eastern room where a maid served tea.

  “What’s the matter with your mistress these days?” Yuanyang asked in a low voice. “I’ve noticed she seems very listless.”

  As they were alone Pinger sighed, “She’s been this way for some time, at least a month. And these last few days she’s been kept on the go and provoked into the bargain, so that’s brought on a relapse. As it’s worse now than before, she can’t put up a brave front and hide it.”

  “In that case why not get a doctor in good time?”

  Again Pinger sighed.

  “Don’t you know the way she is, sister? She won’t hear of fetching a doctor or taking medicine. When I simply asked out of concern how she felt, she swore crossly that my nagging was making her ill. Poorly as she is, she still insists on checking on this and that every day instead of taking things easy to get back her health.”

  “Even so, you ought to get a doctor to diagnose her illness and save us all worry.”

  “I’m afraid it’s something serious.”

  “What do you mean?”

  Pinger drew closer to whisper, “Since her period last month she’s been having fluxions off and on non-stop. Wouldn’t you call that serious?”

  “Aiya! From what you say, it sounds like menorrhagia.” Pinger spat in disgust, then chuckled.

  “What does a girl like you know about such things? It’s unlucky to talk like that.”

  Yuanyang blushed.

  “I didn’t know any such things to start with,” she answered. “But have you forgotten that was how my sister died? I’d no idea what her illness was till I overheard my mother telling her mother-in-law, and the name meant nothing to me. Later I heard mother explain its cause and that gave me an inkling.”

  “Yes, I’d forgotten that,” said Pinger gently. As they were chatting a maid came in.

  “Just now Mrs. Zhu came again,” she announced. “We told her the mistress is having a siesta, so she went to Lady Wang’s place.” Pinger nodded.

  Yuanyang asked, “Which Mrs. Zhu?”

  “That professional go-between,” Pinger explained. “The family of some official named Sun wants to arrange a match with us, so recently she’s been turning up here every day with a card, making a regular nuisance of herself.”

  Before she had finished the maid returned to report, “The master’s back.”

  By now Jia Lian was calling Pinger from the door of the hall, and before she could go to meet him he stepped through her doorway. At sight of Yuanyang seated on the kang he halted.

  “What brings our distinguished Sister Yuanyang to our humble abode?” he asked smiling.

  Remaining seated she answered, “I came to pay my respects to you and madam, but you were ou
t and she was having a nap.”

  “You work so hard all the year round for the old lady, by rights I should call on you. How can we trouble you to come to see us?” He added, “Still, this is very opportune. I was meaning to go and see you, but felt so hot in this heavy gown that I came back first to change into a lighter one. Now Heaven has taken pity on me and saved me a trip by having you waiting here.” He seated himself on a chair.

  She asked what his business was.

  “It’s slipped my mind,” Jia Lian chuckled, “but you may remember. Oil the old lady’s birthday last year, an itinerant monk presented her with a Buddha’s-hand made of soapstone; and as the old lady took a fancy to it, it was taken straight to her place for display. The other day on her birthday I checked our inventory of curios and found this listed there, but I don’t know where it’s got to now. The caretakers of the storeroom for antiques have mentioned it several times, as they want to record where it is. So I meant to ask you whether it’s still in the old lady’s place or whom she’s given it to.”

  “The old lady had it out for a couple of days, then got tired of it and gave it to Madam Lian,” was Yuanyang’s answer. “So now you are asking me! I even remember the day when I sent Old Wang’s wife to bring it here. If you can’t remember, ask Madam Lian or Pinger.”

  Pinger who was getting out clothes for Jia Lian came out on hearing this.

  “Yes, it was delivered here. It’s kept upstairs,” she said. “Madam sent to tell them that it had been given to us, but the fools must have forgotten to record it. Now they’re pestering us again over these trifles.”

  Jia Lian grinned.

  “How come I didn’t know it was given to your mistress? You two must have pocketed it.”

  “She told you, sir,” Pinger retorted. “You wanted to give it to someone else, but she didn’t agree, so we managed to hang on to it. Now you’ve forgotten and say we’ve kept it. What precious, priceless rarity is it, pray? We’ve never kept anything from you, not even things ten times better than this. Why should we value that worthless object now?”

  Jia Lian lowered his head with a smile to think this over, then clapped his hands.

  “Yes, I’m getting muddle-headed and forgetful,” he exclaimed. “I don’t wonder you scold me—my memory’s not what it was.” Yuanyang smiled.

  “You’re not to blame. You have so much to attend to, so many people coming to you with requests; and then when you drink a few cups of wine how can you remember every single thing?” While saying this she rose to take her leave.

  Jia Lian stood up hastily too.

  “Dear Sister, please sit down for a while,” he begged. “I’ve something else to ask you.” He reprimanded the maid, “Why didn’t you brew some better tea? Hurry up and fetch a clean bowl with a lid and brew some of that new tribute tea.”

  Turning back to Yuanyang he went on, “These days, because of the old lady’s birthday, I’ve spent the few thousand taels of silver I had. Our house rents and land rents from various places won’t be coming in till the ninth month, so right now I’m rather hard up. Tomorrow I have to send presents to the Prince of Nanan and prepare Double-Ninth gifts for Her Imperial Highness; then there are weddings and funerals coming up in several other families too. I need at least two or three thousand taels, and I can’t raise that sum quickly. As the proverb says, it’s better to ask of one’s own folk than of outsiders.’ So I wonder, sister, if you’ll stick your neck out and filch me a case of gold and silver utensils which the old lady isn’t using for the time being. I can pawn them for some silver to tide over. In less than half a year, when my money comes in, I’ll redeem them and return them. I promise not to land you in any trouble.”

  “You certainly know a trick or two,” Yuanyang laughed. “The idea!”

  “I won’t lie to you,” he chuckled. “Apart from you, there are several others who have control of plenty of silver, but none of them is as sensible and plucky as you. If I approached them they’d take fright. So I’d rather strike the golden bell once instead of trying all the broken drums.”

  At this point one of the Lady Dowager’s maids hurried in in search of Yuanyang.

  “The old lady wants you, miss,” she said. “We’ve been looking everywhere, but here you were all the time.” Then Yuanyang quickly went back.

  As soon as she had gone Jia Lian went in to see Xifeng, who had woken up and heard him ask for a loan. Not liking to interpose, she just lay on the kang until Yuanyang had left and Jia Lian entered her room.

  “Did she agree?” she asked him.

  “Not in so many words, but it looks hopeful,” he answered cheerfully. “You must go and mention it again this evening, and that should fix it.”

  “I’ll do nothing of the sort,” retorted Xifeng. “If she agrees, once you get hold of the money you’ll forget all your fine talk and promises now. Who’s going to run such a risk for you? If it came to the old lady’s ears, I’d lose all the face I’ve had the last few years.”

  “Be an angel,” he begged. “If you fix this up, I’ll make it worth your while—how’s that?”

  “What with?”

  “Whatever you say.”

  Pinger beside them put in, “Don’t ask for any other rewards, madam. Just yesterday you were saying you needed a couple of hundred taels. If you get this loan you can deduct them from that. Wouldn’t that suit you both?”

  “I’m glad you reminded me,” cried Xifeng gaily. “All right then.”

  “What a hard bargain you drive,” protested Jia Lian. “Don’t talk about pawning things for a mere thousand taels when I know you could easily produce three to five thousand of ready cash here and now. You should be thankful I’m not borrowing from you, just asking you to put in a word; and yet you still demand interest. This is the limit...”

  Before he could go on, Xifeng sprang up.

  “If I have three thousand or fifty thousand, I didn’t earn it from you,” she cried. “Nowadays everybody inside and out, high and low, keeps carping about me behind my back, so you may as well join in. Ghosts from outside don’t come in unless they’re invited by some family devils. Where did our Wang family’s money come from, pray? Is it all from your Jia family? Don’t make me vomit. You think you’re as rich as a mint-master. The sweepings from the cracks in our Wang family’s floor are enough to last you a lifetime. Aren’t you ashamed talking like that? There’s evidence to prove it. Just look at the dowries Lady Wang and I brought and compare them with yours. In what way are we inferior to you?”

  “Why take a joke so seriously?” he asked, smiling. “This is nothing to get so worked up about. If you want a couple of hundred taels, that’s nothing. More than that I can’t manage, but this I can afford. Suppose you take that to be going on with before you raise this loan?”

  “I’m not waiting for that to pay for my funeral, so what’s the hurry?”

  “Why carry on like that? There’s no need to flare up.”

  “Don’t accuse me of temper. But your words cut me to the heart. I was thinking that the day after tomorrow is the anniversary of Second Sister You’s death; and as she and I were good friends, the least I can do is burn some paper money at her grave for friendship’s sake. Though she didn’t leave any children, we shouldn’t forget her now that she’s turned to dust.”

  Jia Lian lowered his head and was silent for some time.

  “I’d forgotten,” he admitted. “It’s good of you to remember. If you don’t need the money till the day after tomorrow, wait till we raise this loan tomorrow, then you can take as much as you want from it.”

  Just then Lai Wang’s wife came in.

  “Is it settled?” Xifeng asked her.

  “No, nothing doing,” answered Mrs. Lai. “But I think if you sponsor it, madam, it should come off.”

  Jia Lian wanted to know what they were talking about.

  “It’s of no great consequence,” Xifeng told him. “Lai Wang has a son who’s seventeen this year and not yet married. They w
ant Caixia who waits on Lady Wang, but don’t know whether Her Ladyship will agree. The other day she kindly said that as Caixia is grown up and so delicate she can be given her freedom and sent home, so that her parents can arrange for her marriage. Then Mrs. Lai approached me. I thought the two families being fairly well matched, once the request was made it was bound to be granted. Yet here she comes now saying nothing doing!”

  “What does that matter?” he rejoined. “There are plenty of better girls than Caixia.”

  Mrs. Lai put in with a smile, “You may look at it that way, sir; but her family turning us down like that will make others look down on us even more. It’s not so easy to find a suitable girl. I thought with your help we could fix it up—that at a word from madam they’d surely agree. So I troubled some one to go and sound them out, but to my surprise we got snubbed. The girl herself is agreeable and never seemed to be against the match, but those two old creatures have grander ideas for their daughter.”

  This was a challenge to Xifeng and Jia Lian; but as her husband was there the former said nothing, just waited to see his reaction. Jia Lian having other things on his mind did not take this seriously. However, as Mrs. Lai had accompanied Xifeng here at the time of her wedding and served them well, he could hardly ignore her request.

  “It’s not all that important,” he said. “Why keep on about it? Don’t worry, you can go now. Tomorrow I’ll act as go-between and send two respectable fellows with betrothal gifts to tell them it’s my proposal. If they still hold out, we’ll get them to come and see me.”

  At a sign from Xifeng, Mrs. Lai fell on her knees to kowtow her thanks to Jia Lian.

  “It’s your mistress you should be kowtowing to,” he said. “Even though I’ll do what I can, it would be best for her to send for Caixia’s mother and put it to her nicely. Otherwise even if they agree, we’ll seem too overbearing.”

  “If you’re willing to go to this trouble for her,” put in Xifeng, “how can I just stand watching? Well, Mrs. Lai, you’ve heard that. After this is settled, you must hurry up and see to my business for me. Tell your husband to collect all the money lent out before the end of this year—not a single cash short. I’ve a bad enough reputation as it is. I don’t want to make it worse by going on lending out money.”