A Dream of Red Mansion

by Cao Xueqin

  Jia Lan came in then to pay his respects and reported, “This morning a letter came from my grandfather, which the servants at the gate brought in to my mother. She wanted to bring it to you, but then my grand-aunt arrived, so she told me to deliver it instead, madam. My mother will be coming presently and so will my grand-aunt, she says.” He presented the letter.

  “What has your grand-aunt come for?” asked Lady Wang.

  “I don’t know,” he answered. “I only heard her mention some letter from my aunt Li Qi’s future in-laws.”

  Lady Wang realized that since a match had been arranged and betrothal gifts exchanged between Zhen Baoyu and Li Wan’s cousin Li Qi, the Zhen family must be wanting to go ahead with the marriage and Aunt Li had come to discuss this. She nodded and opened the letter, in which she read:

  My journey has been delayed by the ships all along the river returning from their successful coastal campaign. I hear that Tanchun is coming to the capital with her father-in-law and husband, and wonder if you have any news of her. I received Lian’s letter about the Elder Master’s illness, but do not know if there is more definite news. Baoyu and Lan will shortly be taking the examination; they must study hard and not slack. It will be some time before the old lady’s coffin can be conveyed to our native place. My health is good; have no worry on that score. Tell Baoyu and the others what I have written. Rong will write separately.

  To this were appended the date and Jia Zheng’s signature.

  Lady Wang returned the letter to Lan saying “Take this to show your Uncle Bao, then give it back to your mother.”

  Just then, however, Li Wan brought over her aunt to pay their respects, and Lady Wang offered them seats. Aunt Li told her of the Zhen family’s wish to expedite Li Qi’s wedding, and they talked this over.

  Then Li Wan asked Lady Wang, “Have you read the master’s letter, madam?”

  “Yes, I have.”

  Jia Lan showed it to his mother, whose comment was, “Tanchun hasn’t been back once in all these years since her marriage. Now that she’s coming to the capital you can feel much easier in your mind, madam.”

  “Yes,” said Lady Wang. “I had palpitations of the heart just now; but this news has made me feel better. I only wonder when she will arrive.”

  When Aunt Li had asked whether Jia Zheng had had a good journey, Li Wan said to her son, “Did you read the letter? It’s nearly time for the examination and your grandfather has it very much on his mind. You must take his letter to show Uncle Bao.”

  “They haven’t passed the first degree; how can they sit for the provincial examination?” Aunt Li inquired.

  Lady Wang explained, “When his grandfather was Grain Commissioner he bought him and Baoyu the rank of Imperial College Student.”

  Aunt Li nodded and Jia Lan went off with the letter to find Baoyu.

  After seeing his mother to her room, Baoyu had gone back to amuse himself by reading the chapter “Autumn Water” in Zhuang Zi. Baochai, coming out from the inner room and finding him utterly absorbed in a book, went over to have a look and was dismayed to discover what it was. “He takes that talk about ‘leaving the world of men’ seriously,” she reflected. “No good will come of it in the long run.” But thinking it useless to try to dissuade him, she sat down beside him lost in reverie.

  Baoyu noticing this asked, “What’s on your mind now?”

  “Since we are man and wife, you’re the one I have to rely on all my life; this isn’t a question of my personal feelings. Of course wealth and honour are ‘transient as drifting clouds’ but the sages of old set store by moral character and a firm foundation....”

  Without waiting for her to finish, Baoyu laid his book aside and said with a faint smile, “So you talk about ‘moral character and a firm foundation’ and the ‘sages of old’. Don’t you know that one ancient sage taught that we ‘should not lose the heart of a child?’ What’s special about a child? Simply this: it has no knowledge, no judgement, no greed and no taboos. From our birth we sink into the quagmire of greed, anger, infatuation and love; and how can we escape from earthly entanglements? I’ve only just realized that mortal men are like water weeds drifting together and then apart again. Though the ancients spoke of this, no one seems to have awakened to the fact. If you want to talk about character and foundation, tell me who has achieved the supreme primeval state?”

  “Since you speak of the heart of a child,” she countered, “the sages of old took it to mean loyalty and filial piety, not leaving the world and giving up all human relationships. The constant concern of Yao and Shun, Yu and Tang, the Duke of Zhou and Confucius was to save the people and benefit the world; so what they meant by the heart of a child was simply love for humanity. What would the world come to if everyone took your advice and disregarded all natural relationships?”

  Baoyu nodded and chuckled, “But Yao and Shun didn’t force Chao Fu and Xu You to take up office, nor did King Wu and the Duke of Zhou force Bo Yi and Shu Qi to serve them.”

  Before he could finish, Baochai interposed, “What you’re saying now is even more wrong. If all the men of old had been like Cao Fu, Xu You, Bo Yi and Shu Qi, why should Yao and Shun, the Duke of Zhou and Confucius be considered as sages today? It’s even more ridiculous to compare yourself with Bo Yi and Shu Qi. They lived when the Shang Dynasty was in decline, and because they couldn’t cope with the situation found some pretext to run away. But we live under a sage Emperor, out family is deeply indebted to the state, and our ancestors have lived in luxury; while in your case, particularly, since your childhood you’ve been treasured by the old lady while she was alive and by your parents. Just think over what you said. Was it right or wrong?”

  Baoyu made no answer, just looked up and smiled.

  Baochai went on to plead, “Since you’ve run out of arguments, my advice to you is to take a grip on yourself and study hard; because if you can pass the triennial examination, even if you stop at that, you’ll be paying back your debt of gratitude for your sovereign’s favour and your ancestor’s virtue.”

  Baoyu nodded and sighed, then said, “Actually it isn’t difficult to pass. And what you said about stopping there and repaying my debt is not far wide of the mark.”

  Before she could answer, Xiren joined in, “Of course, we don’t understand those old sages whom Madam Bao was talking about. I just feel that those of us who’ve been hard at it since we were small serving Master Bao, and told off ever so often—though of course that was only right—all hope he will show more consideration for us. Besides, it’s for your sake that Madam Bao has been such a dutiful daughter-in-law; so even if you haven’t much family feeling you shouldn’t let her down. All those legends about gods and spirits are lies—who ever saw an immortal come down to earth? Yet when that monk from goodness knows where talked some nonsense to you, you believed it! How can someone with book-learning like you, Master Bao, take his advice more seriously than your parents’?”

  Baoyu bowed his head and said nothing.

  Before she could continue, they heard footsteps in the courtyard and someone outside the window asked, “Is Uncle Bao in?”

  Recognizing Jia Lan’s voice, Baoyu stood up and called cheerfully, “Come in!”

  Baochai also rose to her feet as Jia Lan entered, beaming, to pay his respects to them both, after which he and Xiren exchanged greetings. Then he presented the letter to Baoyu.

  After reading it Baoyu said, “So Tanchun’s coming back?”

  “According to grandfather, she must be,” he answered.

  Baoyu nodded and seemed lost in thought.

  “Did you read tire end of the letter, uncle, where grandfather urges us to study hard? Have you written any compositions these days?”

  Baoyu smiled and said. “Yes, I must write a few to keep my hand in, so that I can wangle a pass.”

  “In that case, uncle, won’t you set some subjects for us both, so that I can muddle through this examination too? Otherwise I may have to hand in a blank paper,
making a fool of myself, which would reflect badly on you, uncle, as well.”

  “No, you should do all right.”

  Baochai invited Jia Lan to take a seat, and as Baoyu was still sitting in his own place the boy sat down respectfully beside him. They cheerfully discussed writing essays; and Baochai, observing this, withdrew to the inner room. “Judging by Baoyu’s present behaviour,” she thought, “he appears to have seen reason. Yet just now he stressed that this was where he would stop—what did he mean by that?”

  Though Baochai still had her doubts, Xiren was delighted to hear how animatedly Baoyu was talking about essay writing and the examination. “Merciful Buddha!” she thought. “He seems to have come to his senses at last after that lecture we gave him!”

  As Baoyu and Jia Lan were talking, Yinger brought them tea and Jia Lan stood up to take it. He then consulted Baoyu about the examination rules and suggested that they might invite Zhen Baoyu over. Baoyu appeared very willing.

  Presently Jia Lan went home, leaving the letter with Baoyu, who went in cheerfully and handed it to Sheyue for safe keeping. Coming out again he put away the volume of Zhuang Zi, then gathered together some of his favourite books on Taoism and Buddhism and told Sheyue, Qiuwen and Yinger to take them all away. Wondering what he was up to, Baochai sounded him out playfully, “It’s quite right and proper to stop reading those, but why have them taken away?”

  “It’s just dawned on me that these books count for nothing. I’m going to have them burnt to make a clean sweep!” Hearing this she was beside herself with joy. But then he chanted softly to himself:

  Buddha’s nature is not to be found in sacred canons,

  The fairy barque sails beyond the realm of alchemy.

  She could not hear too clearly but caught the words “Buddha’s nature” and “fairy barque” which caused her fresh misgivings. As she waited to see what he would do next, Baoyu ordered Sheyue and Qiuwen to prepare a quiet room for him, and get out all his collections of the sayings of past sages as well as other famous works and poems written during examinations, which he had put in this room. Then, to Baochai’s relief, he set to work in good earnest.

  Xiren was amazed by these developments. She quietly told Baochai, “The talking-to you gave him did the trick after all, madam. The way you kept refuting him made him see reason. Too bad, though, that it’s rather late in the day—so close to the examination!”

  Baochai nodded and answered with a smile, “Success or failure in examinations is fated, regardless of how soon or late one starts to study. We can only hope that from now on he’ll stick to the right path and never be influenced again by those evil spirits!” Since they were alone in the room she went on softly, “Of course it’s good that he’s seen the light at last; but I’m afraid he may revert to his bad old ways and start fooling about with girls.”

  “Exactly, madam. After Master Bao put his trust in that monk he cooled off towards the girls here; now that he’s lost faith in him, his old trouble may very well flare up again. I don’t think he ever cared much for you or me, madam. Now Zijuan’s gone, leaving just four senior maids and the only vamp among them is Wuer. They say her mother has asked Their Ladyships to let her go home to get married; however, for the time being she’s still here. Sheyue and Qiuwen are all right, but in the old days Master Bao used to fool about with them too; so it looks as if Yinger is the only one in whom he’s shown no interest, and she’s steady girl. I suggest that pouring his tea and fetching his water can be left to her, with some younger girls to help her. What do you think of that, madam?”

  “This is what I’ve been worrying about. Your idea’s a good one.” So from then on Yinger was assigned to wait on Baoyu with some younger maids.

  Baoyu, however, never left his compound, just sending someone every day to pay his respects for him to Lady Wang. And she, it goes without saying, was pleased to know how hard he was studying.

  The third day of the eighth lunar month was the old lady’s birthday. Baoyu went that morning to kowtow to her shrine before going to his study. After lunch, Baochai, Xiren and some of the maids were chatting in the front room with Their Ladyships while he remained in his quiet room deep in thought, when suddenly Yinger brought in a tray of fruit and sweetmeats.

  “Her Ladyship told me to bring you this, Master Bao,” she announced. “It’s a sacrifice to the old lady.”

  Baoyu stood up to express his thanks, then resumed his seat saying, “Put it down there.”

  As Yinger did so she whispered, “Her Ladyship’s praising you.” When he smiled she added, “Her Ladyship says, now you’re working hard and will soon pass the examination; and next year you’ll get your third degree and an official post, living up to your parents’ hopes!”

  He still merely nodded and smiled.

  Yinger suddenly recalled what he had said when she made him a net before. “If you really pass, Master Bao, Madam Bao will be in luck! Remember that year in the Garden, when you told me to make you a plum-blossom net? You said he’d be a lucky man, whoever got the pair of us, mistress and maid. Now you’re the one in luck.”

  Hearing this, Baoyu felt a stirring of desire, but quickly suppressing it said with a faint smile, “You say I’m in luck and your mistress too. How about you?”

  Yinger blushed. “What luck is there for the likes of me—bondmaids for life?”

  “If you can really remain a bondmaid all your life, you’ll be luckier than us,” he chuckled.

  She was afraid he was raving again on account of what she had said, and decided to leave.

  “You silly girl!” he laughed. “I’ve something to tell you.”

  To know what this was you must read the next chapter.

  Chapter 119

  Baoyu Passes the Examination with Honours and Severs Earthly Ties

  The Jia Family Retains Its Wealth and Titles Thanks to Imperial Favour

  Bewildered by Baoyu’s talk, Yinger was about to leave.

  “You silly girl!” he said. “I’ve something to tell you. Since your young mistress is in luck, of course you as her maid will be lucky too, which is more than your sister Xiren can count on. You must work hard in future, so that when your mistress prospers she may repay you for your faithful service.”

  The first half of this made sense to Yinger, not the last. However all she said was, “I understand. Madam Bao is expecting me. When you’re ready to taste the sweetmeats just send a maid to call me.”

  Baoyu nodded and she left. Presently Baochai and Xiren also went back to their rooms, where we will leave them.

  A few days later it was time for the examination. Everyone else simply hoped that the two young masters would write good compositions and pass with honours; but Baochai had noticed that Baoyu, though studying hard, seemed strangely detached and indifferent. As this was the first examination for which he and Jia Lan had entered, she feared they might meet with some mishap in the throng of people and horses; moreover ever since the monk’s departure Baoyu had stayed indoors, and though she had rejoiced to see him studying she was sceptical about his sudden conversion and afraid of some new misfortune. And so, the day before the examination, she sent Xiren with some maids to help Suyun pack the young gentlemen’s things; and when she had made sure that everything needed was ready, she went with Li Wan to ask Lady Wang to send more than the usual number of experienced stewards with them, ostensibly to prevent their being jostled in the crowd.

  The next day Baoyu and Jia Lan, in clothes neither new nor shabby, presented themselves cheerfully to Lady Wang.

  “This is your first examination,” she warned them. “The first time in all these years that you’ve ever left me. Even when I wasn’t keeping an eye on you, you were surrounded by maids and serving-women, never sleeping for a single night alone. Today, entering for the examination, you’ve going to be entirely on your own, so you’ll have to take care of yourselves! Come out as soon as you’ve finished your compositions to find our family servants, then come straight back to s
et the minds of your mothers and wife at rest.” She was moved to grief as she spoke.

  Jia Lan-had assented to each sentence, whereas Baoyu had said nothing. But when his mother finished he came over to kneel before her, shedding tears. After kowtowing three times he said, “I can never repay the mother who gave birth to me. But I shall do as well as I can in the examination, to obtain a good ju-ren degree and make you happy, madam. Then I shall have done my duty as a son and atoned for all my faults.”

  This upset Lady Wang even more. “It’s good, of course, for you to feel that way,” she said. “If only the old lady could have lived to see you now!” Weeping she tried to raise him to his feet, but Baoyu refused to get up.

  “Even if the old lady can’t see me, she’ll know and be pleased,” he answered. “So it’s all the same whether she sees me or not. We’re separated in form only, not in spirit.”

  This exchange made Li Wan afraid that Baoyu was losing his mind again, besides striking her as inauspicious. She made haste to say, “Madam, why grieve over such a happy occasion? Especially as Brother Baoyu has recently been so sensible and dutiful, studying hard as well. When he and his nephew have taken the examination and written some good compositions, they’ll come straight back to show what they wrote to our seniors, after which we can wait for news of their success.” She told maids to help Baoyu up.

  He turned to bow to her saying, “Don’t worry, sister-in-law. We’re both of us going to pass. Later on, your Lan is going to do so well that you’ll wear the costume of a high-ranking lady.”

  She chuckled, “I only hope it works out as you say, so that it won’t have been in vain....” She broke off there, afraid to upset Lady Wang. “Provided you have a good son to continue our ancestors’ line,” rejoined Baoyu, “even though my brother hasn’t lived to see it, it means he has done his duty.”

  Li Wan simply nodded, reluctant to say any more as it was growing late.