A Dream of Red Mansion

by Cao Xueqin

  This sounded so ominous that Caiping signalled to the nuns to go. They took the hint, being afraid to incite Xichun any further. When they took their leave she did not try to detain them, simply saying sarcastically, “Do you think your nunnery is the only one in the world?”

  Without venturing to answer, the nuns left.

  As this development looked serious and Caiping feared she would be held to blame, she quietly went and reported it to Madam You.

  “Our young lady still wants to cut off her hair,” she said. “These last few days she’s been unwell or else lamenting her fate. You’d better be careful, madam, that she doesn’t make away with herself or we shall get the blame.”

  “She doesn’t want to be a nun!” scoffed Madam You. “She just likes to provoke me while the master’s away. Well, let her.”

  Then Caiping could only try to talk Xichun round; but her young mistress went on fasting every day and remained set on cutting off her hair. Her maids, unable to cope, reported this to the other mistresses. Their Ladyships did their best to dissuade Xichun, but she was adamant.

  They were thinking of telling Jia Zheng when the arrival of Lady Zhen and her son Baoyu was announced. All hurried out to welcome her, then ushered her into Lady Wang’s room to sit down. After an exchange of amenities Lady Wang sent to invite Zhen Baoyu in too, having heard that he was the image of her Baoyu.

  The messenger came back to report, “Master Zhen is talking with the master in the study. His Lordship is so struck by him that he’s sent for our Master Bao and Master Huan and wants Master Lan to have his meal there too. They’ll come over after they’ve eaten.” By this time dinner had also been served inside.

  When Jia Zheng saw that Zhen Baoyu did indeed look exactly like his son, he tested his literary talents and was so impressed by the youth’s fluent answers that he sent for his sons and grandson to meet this prodigy, also meaning Baoyu to compare himself with him. Thus summoned, Baoyu came out in mourning with his younger brother and nephew. At sight of Zhen Baoyu he felt as if they were old acquaintances, while young Zhen too had the impression that they had met before. After they had greeted each other, Huan and Lan stepped forward in mm to pay their respects.

  Jia Zheng, being in mourning, had been sitting on the floor. When he offered Zhen Baoyu a seat the lad felt it would be presumptuous to take it as he belonged to the younger generation. He placed a mattress on the floor and sat on that. Baoyu and the two other boys could not sit with Jia Zheng; on the other hand, since the visitor belonged to their generation, Jia Zheng could hardly make his sons stand in his presence. In this dilemma he rose after a few remarks and ordered the meal to be served.

  “Please excuse me,” he said. “My sons will keep you company. They can profit by your edifying conversation.”

  “Don’t let me keep you, sir,” rejoined Zhen Baoyu politely. “I am the one hoping to learn from them.”

  After a few further words Jia Zheng went to his inner study, not letting young Zhen escort him. Baoyu, Huan and Lan, who had left the room first, stood respectfully outside the door until Jia Zheng had gone before returning to ask the guest to sit down. Then they told each other how long they had been looking forward to this meeting—no need to record their conversation in detail.

  Now the sight of Zhen Baoyu had reminded Baoyu of his dream. Sure that they must share the same views, he felt he had found a friend after his own heart; but since this was their first meeting he had to hold himself in check, the more so as Jia Huan and Jia Lan were present.

  He complimented the visitor by saying, “I have long known of your fine reputation, but never had the chance to meet you in person. Now that I see you, sir, you truly seem an immortal descended from heaven!”

  Zhen Baoyu had also heard of Baoyu, and felt that he lived up to his reputation. “We can study together, but we may not be travelling the same road,” I he thought. “Since we have the same name and look alike, we must be predestined to be kindred spirits. Now that I am beginning to know what is right, why shouldn’t I pass my knowledge on to him? But as we’ve only just met, I don’t know whether we are of the same mind. I mustn’t be too hasty.” So he said, “I have long known of your talents. You are one in ten thousand—so pure and refined. Being nothing but a vulgar fool myself, I am well aware that I disgrace the name which we both share.”

  Hearing this Baoyu thought, “He really does think as I do. But as both of us are men who can’t compare with chaste girls, how can he attribute their qualities to me?” He answered, “Indeed, I don’t deserve such praise. I am a foolish lout, a mere block of stone. How can I compare with your pure nobility? It is you who live up to the name ‘precious jade.’“

  “When I was young I was very cocksure,” replied Zhen. “I thought myself jade which only needed polishing; but after our family got into trouble, for some years I ranked lower than a pebble or tile. Though I can’t claim to have experienced prosperity and adversity in full, I’ve nevertheless reached a slightly better understanding of human affairs. You have all the luxuries you can desire while your literary talent and grasp of affairs must be outstanding, so naturally your father treasures you. This is why I think you deserve to be called ‘precious jade.’“

  This seemed to Baoyu sycophantic talk, and he did not know how to answer. Jia Huan was rather unhappy at being ignored. Jia Lan, however, approved of what Zhen had said.

  “You are too modest, sir,” he chimed in. “Regarding literary talent and the ability to manage affairs, the only way to amass genuine knowledge is through experience and study. Though I am too young to know much about literature, when I carefully think over what I have read, a good reputation and honour rank a hundred times higher than wealth and luxury.”

  Baoyu wondered irritably when the boy had picked up this pedantic twaddle. He said to Zhen, “I have heard that you too are against all that is vulgar and have a superior understanding of life. I am very lucky to have met you today and would like to hear some of your transcendent views to cleanse my heart of vulgarity and enable me to see things in a new light. I didn’t think you would take me for such a fool as to fob me off with mundane talk of that kind.”

  Zhen Baoyu thought, “He knows what I was like as a boy, so he suspects me of shamming. I had better made myself clear in the hope that then we may become close friends.” So he replied, “You have spoken very sincerely, and the fact is that when I was younger I did detest those old truisms too. As I grew older, though, and my father retired from official life, he couldn’t be troubled to entertain guests and gave the task to me. Then I saw that all those mandarins had brought glory to their families, while of men of letters not one but spoke of loyalty and filial piety, concerned to win fame for their virtue and learning in order not to have lived in vain under such a sagacious reign or fall short of the expectations of their fathers and the tutors who brought them up. So gradually I rid myself Of some of the foolish notions I had as a boy. Now I want to seek out teachers and friends to help enlighten me. I am fortunate to have met you who can certainly edify me. What I said just now was truly from my heart.”

  By now Baoyu was thoroughly exasperated, but for politeness’ sake he made an evasive answer. Luckily a message now came from the inner quarters: “If the young gentlemen have finished dinner, Master Zhen is invited over for a chat.”

  Baoyu seized this chance to urge Zhen Baoyu to go in and the latter accordingly went ahead, accompanied by the others to Lady Wang’s apartments. There Baoyu saw Lady Zhen in the seat of honour and paid his respects to her. Jia Huan and Jia Lan followed suit, while Zhen Baoyu paid his respects to Lady Wang. So the two mothers confronted each other’s sons. Though Baoyu was already a married man, as Lady Zhen was advanced in years and an old relative too, she showed a great interest in him when she saw his close resemblance to her son. Lady Wang, it goes without saying, when she took young Zhen by the hand to question him found him better mannered than her own Baoyu. She glanced at Jia Lan who, although more handsome than most,
could not compare with either of them in looks. As for Jia Huan, he was so uncouth that she could not hide to whom she felt most partial.

  All the maids came in to look at the two Baoyu’s. “But how extraordinary!” they commented. “It’s not so strange their having the same name, but they are the image of each other! It’s a good thing our Master Bao is in mourning, because if they were dressed alike there’d be no telling them apart.”

  Zijuan suddenly thought back fondly to Daiyu, telling herself, “What a pity Miss Lin is dead! Otherwise she might have been willing to marry this Zhen Baoyu.” Then she heard Lady Zhen say, “The other day I heard from my husband that since our son is growing up he had begged your husband to take care of his marriage.”

  Lady Wang who had taken to the boy answered readily, “I’d like to act as go-between myself. Our house had four daughters, but three are either dead or already married, and the only one left, the younger sister of our nephew Zhen, is a few years too young; so it wouldn’t be a good match. However, my elder daughter-in-law has two girl cousins, both nice-looking. One is already betrothed; the other would be just right for your honourable son. After a day or so I’ll propose the match. The only snag is that her family is not so well-off nowadays.”

  “Madam, don’t stand on ceremony with us!” protested Lady Zhen. “What have we to boast about? I’m afraid her family may think us too poor.”

  “Now that your husband has been entrusted with a mission, your fortunes will not only be restored—you’re bound to prosper even more than before.”

  “I only hope so,” replied Lady Zhen with a smile. “In that case, I beg you to be the go-between.”

  When they started discussing his marriage Zhen Baoyu had taken his leave, and Baoyu escorted him back to the outer study where Jia Zheng had returned. They stood talking there for a while until the Zhens’ servant announced that his mother was leaving and wanted him to go home, Jia Zheng told the three boys to see him out. No more of this.

  To revert to Baoyu, ever since he had met Zhen Baoyu’s father and learned that his son was coming to the capital, he had been longing to meet him, sure that he would prove a kindred spirit. However, their talk had shown him that they were as incompatible as ice and charcoal. He went back dejectedly to his own quarters to brood in gloomy silence.

  “Is that Zhen Baoyu really like you?” Baochai asked him.

  “In looks, yes; but judging by the way he talks he doesn’t have much understanding. He’s just a place-seeker of the lowest sort.”

  “There you go running people down again! How can you be sure of that?”

  “He talked and talked but said not a word about seeking for truth, just holding forth on scholarship and the management of affairs, as well as loyalty and filial piety. Isn’t such a person a toady? It’s too bad that we look alike! The thought of him makes me wish I could change my looks!”

  As this sounded nonsensical to Baochai, she said, “The way you talk is really laughable! How can you change your looks? Besides, he was quite right. A man should establish himself and make a name. Who else is as soft and sentimental as you? Yet instead of admitting your weak character you call other people place-seekers.”

  Baoyu had been thoroughly exasperated by Zhen Baoyu’s homily, and this rebuff from Baochai rankled still more. His dejection made his old illness flare up again, and instead of answering he grinned inanely. Baochai, not knowing the reason, thought he was scoffing at her to show disapproval and therefore paid no attention. But that day he was so distracted that when Xiren and others teased him, he said nothing. The next morning he got up looking as vacant and stupid as during his past derangement.

  Since Xichun was set on cutting off her hair and becoming a nun and Madam You was unable to talk her round, it seemed that unless they let her have her way she would commit suicide. Though she was under constant watch that did not solve the problem. So one day Lady Wang reported this to Jia Zheng. Her husband stamped his foot.

  “What has our East Mansion done to be reduced to this?” he sighed.

  Sending for Jia Rong to admonish him, he told him to get his mother to have a serious talk with Xichun. “If she insists on this course, she’ll no longer be a daughter of our house,” he warned.

  However, Madam You’s exhortations only made Xichun more eager to kill herself.

  “As a girl, I can’t stay with the family all my life,” she said. “If my marriage proved like Second Sister’s, the master and mistress would have more cause to worry, and besides she died too in the end. So if you have any real affection for me, just count me as dead and let me become a nun to live a clean life. Especially as I don’t have to leave the house. Green Lattice Nunnery is in our own grounds and I can practise my devotions there, while if I need anything you can see to it. Miaoyu’s maids are still there too now. If you’ll agree to this you’ll be saving my life; if you don’t, I have no option but to die and be done with it! If I can have my wish, when my brother comes back I shall explain to him that you didn’t force me to do this; but if I die he’s bound to think it was you who drove me to it.”

  Madam You, who had always been on bad terms with Xichun, felt there was reason in this argument and went off to report it to Lady Wang; but the latter had gone to Baochai’s apartments.

  Horrified to find Baoyu out of his mind, Lady Wang reprimanded Xiren, “How careless you all are! Why didn’t you tell me that Baoyu was ill again?”

  “This illness of his is chronic,” replied Xiren. “He gets better for a while, then has a relapse. He’s been going to pay his respects to you every day, with nothing wrong with him, madam, and it’s only today that his wits have wandered again. Madam Bao was just thinking of letting you know, but was afraid you might scold us for raising a false alarm.”

  When Baoyu heard his mother rebuking them, his mind cleared for a moment and to defend them he said, “Don’t worry, madam. There’s nothing wrong with me except that I feel rather gloomy.”

  “This is an old trouble of yours. You should tell me as soon as you feel unwell, so that we can get a doctor to prescribe medicine. What an ado there’d be if you had another bad relapse like that time when you lost your jade!”

  “If you’re worried, madam, you can send for a doctor and I’ll take some medicine,” he answered.

  Lady Wang despatched maids to see to this and, as her whole concern was Baoyu, she forgot about Xichun’s problem, not returning to her own quarters until the doctor had come and made out a prescription.

  A few days later Baoyu was more feeble-minded and, to everyone’s consternation, he would not eat. As the termination of mourning was keeping the others busy, Jia Yun was instructed to receive the doctor; and Jia Lian, being short-handed, asked Wang Ren to help attend to outside affairs. Qiaojie was ill too after crying day and night for her mother. So once again the Rong Mansion was in a tumult.

  On the day that they returned from terminating the mourning, Lady Wang came to see Baoyu. He was unconscious, and the whole household was frantic.

  Weeping she told Jia Zheng, “The doctor refuses to prescribe any medicine. All we can do is prepare for the last rites.”

  Sighing bitterly Jia Zheng went over in person, and when he saw that Baoyu was indeed dying he told Jia Lian to have preparations made. Jia Lian had to pass on his orders, but lacking money he was in a dilemma.

  Just at this juncture a servant rushed in crying, “More trouble, Master Lian!”

  Staggered, staring at the servant, Jia Lian demanded, “What now?”

  “A monk has come to our gate bringing the jade which Master Bao lost. He’s asking for a reward of ten thousand taels.”

  Jia Lian spat in the fellow’s face. “Is that any reason to panic? Don’t you know last time it was a fraud? Even if this is genuine, Baoyu is dying, so what good will the jade do him?”

  “I told the monk that. But he says if we give him the silver Master Bao will recover.”

  Just then they heard shouts outside, “This monk has run amuc
k! He rushed in and no one could stop him.”

  “Preposterous!” cried Jia Lian. “Throw him out, quick!”

  They heard another commotion, and Jia Zheng was wondering what do when a wailing went up inside, “Master Bao is dying!” Feeling still more distraught, he heard the monk shouting, “If you want him to live, give me the money!”

  He thought, “Last time it was a monk who cured Baoyu; now another has turned up who may be able to save him. But even if it’s the genuine article, how are we to raise so much money?” On second thoughts he decided, “Never mind. We can worry about that if Baoyu really recovers.” He was sending for the monk when in the man came and, without so much as paying his respects or saying a word, ran towards the inner apartments.

  Jia Lian grabbed his arm protesting, “There are ladies inside; how can you charge in so wildly?”

  “Any delay and I’ll be too late to save him!”

  Then Jia Lian went over yelling, “Stop crying, everyone inside! A monk is coming in!”

  Lady Wang and the others were sobbing too bitterly to pay any attention. As Jia Lian entered, still shouting, they turned to see a hulking monk, although terrified, they had no time to hide as the monk marched straight to Baoyu’s kang. Baochai slipped away then, but Xiren dared not move as Lady Wang had remained standing there.

  “Benefactresses,” cried the monk, “I’ve brought the jade.” Holding it up he added, “Hurry up and bring out the silver, then I’ll save him.”

  Panic-stricken Lady Wang could not tell whether it was genuine or not. “Provided you save his life, you’ll get the silver,” she promised.

  “Hand it over then!” the monk insisted.

  “Don’t worry. We can raise that much silver anyway,” Lady Wang assured him.

  The monk roared with laughter and, holding the jade, lent over the kang to cry, “Baoyu, Baoyu! Your precious jade has come back.” Lady Wang and the rest saw Baoyu open his eyes, at which Xiren called out for joy.

  “Where is it?” Baoyu asked.