Chapter 31: A torn fan wins a smile from a maid; A pair of unicorns hints at a happy union

CHAPTER 31

A Torn Fan Wins a Smile from a Maid;

A Pair of Unicorns Foreshadows a Couple

Now when Xiren saw the blood she had spat on the ground, her heart turned cold. She remembered hearing people say, "If a young person spits blood, their years are numbered; even if they live long, they will be an invalid." Thinking of this, all her former hopes of winning glory and praise faded away, and tears fell from her eyes. When Baoyu saw her crying, he too felt distressed and asked, "How do you feel?" Xiren forced a smile and replied, "I'm fine—what could be the matter?" Baoyu immediately wanted to have someone heat some yellow wine and fetch the goat's blood and Li Dong pills. Xiren took his hand and said with a smile, "If you make a fuss like this, you'll bring in a crowd of people, and they'll blame me for being frivolous. If no one knows now, you'll only make it known, and it will be bad for both of us. Tomorrow, just send a boy to ask Dr. Wang for some medicine to take, and I'll be better. Wouldn't it be better to keep it quiet?" Baoyu saw the sense in this and had to give up the idea. He poured some tea from the table and gave it to Xiren to rinse her mouth. Xiren knew Baoyu was uneasy; if she didn't let him serve her, he would insist, and besides, it would disturb the others, so it was better to let him do as he pleased. So she let Baoyu wait on her on the couch. At the fifth watch, Baoyu, without stopping to wash or comb his hair, hurriedly put on his clothes and went out to summon Wang Jiren, questioning him carefully in person. Wang Jiren asked about the cause, and since it was merely an injury, he named a pill, explaining how to take it and how to apply it externally. Baoyu noted it down, returned to the garden, and prepared the remedy according to the prescription. Of this, no more need be said.

That day happened to be the Dragon Boat Festival. Mugwort and calamus were hung on the doors, and tiger-shaped talismans were tied to the arms. At noon, Lady Wang set out a feast and invited Aunt Xue and her daughter to enjoy the midday festivities. Baoyu saw that Baochai was aloof and did not speak to him, and he knew it was because of the previous day's incident. Lady Wang noticed Baoyu was listless and assumed it was because of Jinchuan's affair the day before, that he felt embarrassed, so she paid him even less attention. Lin Daiyu saw Baoyu was languid and thought it was because he had offended Baochai, so she felt uncomfortable and also became listless. Xifeng had been told by Lady Wang the night before about Baoyu and Jinchuan's matter, and knowing Lady Wang was out of sorts, she dared not laugh or joke, so she simply followed Lady Wang's mood and became even more subdued. The Jia sisters, Yingchun and the others, seeing everyone was out of spirits, also felt dull. Thus, after sitting for a while, they all dispersed.

Lin Daiyu by nature preferred scattering to gathering. She had her own reasoning: "When people gather, there must be a parting; the joy of gathering is followed by the desolation of parting. Since desolation brings sorrow, it is better not to gather at all. It is like flowers—when they bloom, they delight people, but when they wither, they add to the melancholy; so it is better they never bloom." Thus, when others were happy, she often felt sad. Baoyu, on the other hand, only wished for eternal togetherness, fearing that a sudden parting would bring sorrow; he wished flowers would always bloom, fearing that a sudden withering would bring disappointment. When the feast ended and the flowers faded, despite his myriad sorrows, he could do nothing about it. Therefore, at today's feast, when everyone lost interest and dispersed, Lin Daiyu was not bothered, but Baoyu felt deeply depressed. Returning to his own room, he sighed and groaned. Just then, Qingwen came up to change his clothes and carelessly dropped the fan she was holding, breaking its ribs. Baoyu sighed and said, "Blockhead! Blockhead! What will become of you in the future? When you have your own household to manage tomorrow, will you still be so heedless of the consequences?" Qingwen sneered and said, "Master Bao has been very irritable lately, flying into a rage at the slightest thing. A few days ago, you even hit Xiren, and today you're finding fault with us. If you want to kick or beat us, go ahead. Dropping a fan is no big deal. Before, you broke so many glass jars and agate bowls, and I never saw you lose your temper like this. Now, it's just a fan, and you're so angry. Why bother! If you find us disagreeable, send us away and pick better ones. A clean break—wouldn't that be better?" Baoyu, hearing this, trembled with anger and said, "Don't be in such a hurry—there will be a day of parting!"

Xiren, who had already heard from over there, hurried over and said to Baoyu, "What's the matter now? Just as I said, 'If I'm not here for a moment, something happens.'" Qingwen sneered at this and said, "Since Sister is so good with words, you should have come earlier, and saved Master from getting angry. From ancient times, you're the only one who has served Master; we never have. Because you served so well, you got a kick in the chest yesterday. We who don't know how to serve—who knows what punishment awaits us tomorrow!" Hearing this, Xiren was both angry and ashamed. She wanted to say something, but seeing Baoyu's face already yellow with rage, she had to restrain herself and pushed Qingwen, saying, "Good sister, go out for a stroll. It's our fault after all." When Qingwen heard the word "our," she naturally took it to mean Xiren and Baoyu, and feeling jealous, she sneered a few times and said, "I don't know who 'we' are. Don't make me blush for you! Even those sneaky things you do behind people's backs can't be hidden from me, and yet you dare to call yourselves 'we'! Openly and honestly, you haven't even earned the title of 'maid' yet; you're no better than me—how can you call yourselves 'we'!" Xiren's face flushed purple with shame. Thinking it over, she realized she had misspoken. Baoyu said, "If you're all so dissatisfied, tomorrow I'll deliberately promote her." Xiren quickly grabbed Baoyu's hand and said, "She's a foolish person; why argue with her? Besides, you've always been tolerant—you've put up with bigger things than this. What's gotten into you today?" Qingwen sneered, "I am indeed foolish—how could I be worthy to talk with you?" Xiren said, "Are you quarreling with me, miss, or with Master Bao? If you're angry with me, just say it to me; there's no need to argue in front of Master. If you're angry with Master, you shouldn't make such a racket that everyone knows. I only came in to smooth things over, so everyone can take care. But you've picked a quarrel with me instead. It's not like you're angry with me, nor with Master—you're just throwing out barbs. What exactly is your intention? I won't say any more; let you talk." With that, she started to leave. Baoyu said to Qingwen, "Don't be angry. I can guess what's on your mind. I'll go tell Madam that you're grown up now and send you away—would that be good?" Hearing this, Qingwen felt a pang of sorrow and said through tears, "Why should I be sent away? If you find me disagreeable, you can scheme to get rid of me, but you won't succeed." Baoyu said, "Have I ever endured such a quarrel? You must want to leave. I'd better tell Madam and send you off." So saying, he stood up to leave. Xiren quickly turned back and stopped him, saying with a smile, "Where are you going?" Baoyu said, "To tell Madam." Xiren laughed and said, "How absurd! If you really go and tell her, aren't you ashamed? Even if she truly wants to leave, wait until this anger has cooled down, and when there's nothing going on, you can mention it to Madam—that won't be too late. If you rush off now as if it's a serious matter, won't Madam become suspicious?" Baoyu said, "Madam certainly won't be suspicious—I'll just say plainly that she's making a scene and wants to leave." Qingwen cried, "When did I ever make a scene about leaving? On top of being angry, you're twisting my words. Go ahead and tell her—I'd rather dash my head against the wall and die than leave this door!" Baoyu said, "That's strange. If you're not leaving, why are you making such a fuss? I can't stand this quarreling—it would be cleaner if you left." So saying, he insisted on going to tell Madam. Seeing she couldn't stop him, Xiren had to kneel down. Bihén, Qiuwen, and Sheyue, the other maids, had been listening silently outside, not daring to make a sound during the quarrel. When they heard Xiren kneeling and begging, they all came in and knelt down together. Baoyu quickly helped Xiren up, sighed, sat down on the bed, told the others to rise, and said to Xiren, "What am I to do! I wear out my heart for you, and no one understands." With that, tears fell from his eyes. When Xiren saw Baoyu crying, she too began to weep.

Qingwen was weeping beside him and was about to speak when she saw Lin Daiyu enter, so she left. Lin Daiyu smiled and said, “Why are you crying so bitterly in the midst of this festival? Could it be that you’ve been squabbling over grabbing zongzi?” Baoyu and Xiren burst out laughing. Daiyu said, “Second Brother won’t tell me, but I’ll ask you and find out.” As she spoke, she patted Xiren on the shoulder and laughed, “Good sister-in-law, you tell me. Surely you two have had a quarrel. Tell your little sister, and I’ll mediate and make peace for you.” Xiren pushed her away and said, “Miss Lin, what are you carrying on about? I’m just a maid, and you keep talking nonsense.” Daiyu laughed, “You say you’re a maid, but I treat you as a sister-in-law.” Baoyu said, “Why must you bring a bad reputation upon her? Even as it is, there’s gossip going around; how can it bear you adding to it?” Xiren smiled and said, “Miss Lin, you don’t know my troubles. Unless I take one last breath and die, that would be the end of it.” Lin Daiyu laughed, “If you die, I don’t know about others, but I’d cry myself to death first.” Baoyu laughed, “If you die, I’ll become a monk.” Xiren laughed, “Do be more sensible—why say such things?” Lin Daiyu stretched out two fingers, pursed her lips, and laughed, “You’ve already been a monk twice. From now on, I’ll keep count of how many times you become a monk.” Baoyu heard this and knew she was referring to what he’d said before; he just smiled and let it drop.

After a while, Daiyu left, and someone came to say, “Master Xue invites you.” Baoyu had no choice but to go. It turned out to be a drinking party; he couldn’t refuse, so he stayed until the feast ended. Returning that evening, already slightly tipsy, he staggered into his own courtyard. There, he saw that the cool mat for lounging had been set out, and someone was sleeping on it. Baoyu thought it was Xiren, so he sat on the edge of the mat and pushed the person, asking, “Is the pain any better?” The person turned over and sat up, saying, “Why do this? You’re provoking me again!” Baoyu looked closely—it wasn’t Xiren, but Qingwen. He pulled her over and sat her beside him, laughing, “Your temper is getting more spoiled by the day. This morning, when the fan was dropped, I only said a couple of words, and you came back with all that. It’s fine to aim at me, but when Xiren kindly tried to smooth things over, you dragged her into it too. Think it over yourself—was that right or wrong?” Qingwen said, “It’s so hot—what are you pulling and tugging for? What will people think if they see? My body’s not fit to sit here anyway.” Baoyu laughed, “If you know you’re not fit, why were you sleeping here?” Qingwen had nothing to say, then gave a snort of laughter and said, “If you hadn’t come, it would have been fine; now that you’re here, I’m not fit. Get up, let me go bathe. Xiren and Sheyue have already bathed. I’ll call them.” Baoyu laughed, “I’ve just had quite a lot to drink and need to wash up too. Since you haven’t bathed, fetch some water and we’ll bathe together.” Qingwen waved her hand and laughed, “Stop, stop—I wouldn’t dare provoke you, sir. I still remember when Bihuan attended your bath—it took a good two or three hours, and heaven knows what you were doing. We didn’t dare go in either. Afterwards, when you finished, I went in to look—the water on the floor had soaked the bed legs, and even the mat was flooded. I don’t know how you bathed; we laughed for days. I don’t have the energy to clean up, and don’t ask me to bathe with you. It’s cool today anyway—having bathed earlier, you don’t need another. I’ll just fetch a basin of water for you to wash your face and comb your hair. Just now, Yuanyang sent over lots of fruit, all chilled in that crystal vat—let them bring it for you to eat.” Baoyu laughed, “Since that’s the case, you don’t have to bathe either. Just wash your hands and bring the fruit to eat.” Qingwen laughed, “I’m so flustered—I’ve even broken a fan—how could I be fit to serve you fruit? If I break a plate too, that would be even worse.” Baoyu laughed, “If you like breaking things, then break them. These objects are originally for people’s use. You like one thing, I like another—everyone has different temperaments. For instance, a fan is meant to wave for a breeze, but if you want to tear it up for fun, that’s fine too—just don’t take your anger out on it. Like cups and plates, they’re for holding things; if you enjoy the sound of breaking, smashing them on purpose is also acceptable—but don’t vent your anger on them. That’s what it means to treasure things.” When Qingwen heard this, she laughed and said, “If that’s so, then get me a fan to tear up. I love tearing them.” Baoyu laughed and handed one to her. Qingwen took it, and with a ripping sound, tore it in two, then tore it a few more times with more ripping sounds. Baoyu laughed beside her, “That sounds wonderful! Tear it louder!” Just then, Sheyue walked over and laughed, “Stop committing such sins.” Baoyu hurried over, snatched the fan from her hand, and gave it to Qingwen. Qingwen took it and tore it into several pieces, and both of them burst out laughing. Sheyue said, “What’s this all about? Using my things for amusement?” Baoyu laughed, “Open the fan case and pick another—what’s so precious about it?” Sheyue said, “If that’s so, then let’s bring out the whole case and let her tear as much as she likes—wouldn’t that be better?” Baoyu laughed, “Go ahead and bring it.” Sheyue said, “I’m not going to create that sin. Her hands aren’t broken—let her bring it herself.” Qingwen laughed, leaning on the bed, “I’m tired too; let’s tear more tomorrow.” Baoyu laughed, “The ancients said, ‘A thousand pieces of gold can hardly buy a smile’—what are a few fans worth?” As he spoke, he called for Xiren. Xiren had just changed her clothes and came out. The little maid Jiahui came over to pick up the broken fans, and everyone enjoyed the cool air—no need to go into details.

By midday the next day, Lady Wang, Xue Baochai, Lin Daiyu, and the other young ladies were sitting in the Lady Dowager’s room when someone announced, “Miss Shi has arrived.” Shortly, they saw Shi Xiangyun leading a group of maids and women through the courtyard. Baochai and Daiyu hurried to the steps to greet her. When young cousins who haven’t seen each other for a month meet again, their closeness needs no detailed description. Soon they entered the room, paid their respects, and exchanged greetings. The Lady Dowager said, “It’s hot; take off your outer clothes.” Xiangyun quickly rose to remove her garments. Lady Wang laughed, “I don’t see why you wear so many things.” Xiangyun smiled, “Second Aunt made me put them on; who would want to wear all this?” Baochai chuckled nearby, “Auntie doesn’t know, but she likes wearing other people’s clothes even more. Remember last year, in the third or fourth month, when she stayed here? She put on Baoyu’s gown and boots, tied on his headband, and at a glance looked just like him, except for the two earrings. She stood behind that chair, fooling the old lady into calling out, ‘Baoyu, come here, be careful the lamp tassels don’t shake dust into your eyes.’ She just laughed and didn’t come over. Later, we all couldn’t help laughing, and the old lady finally smiled, saying, ‘Dressed as a man, she looks prettier.’” Lin Daiyu added, “That’s nothing. Just the year before last, when she was invited over in the first month, it snowed within two days. The old lady and Aunt must have just returned from the ancestral portrait ceremony. The old lady had a brand-new, bright red woolen cape lying there, and before anyone noticed, Xiangyun had put it on. It was too big and long, so she tied a handkerchief around her waist and went to make snowmen in the back courtyard with the maids. She fell into a ditch, covering herself with mud.” As they spoke, recalling the past, everyone laughed. Baochai turned to Nurse Zhou and said with a smile, “Nanny Zhou, is your young lady still as mischievous as ever?” Nurse Zhou also laughed. Yingchun smiled, “Mischief is one thing, but I can’t stand how talkative she is. Even lying down, she chatters endlessly, laughing and talking—where does she get all those words?” Lady Wang said, “Perhaps she’s better now. The other day, someone came to look her over for a match; she’s about to have a mother-in-law’s home, so she can’t still be like that.” The Lady Dowager asked, “Will you stay today, or go home?” Nurse Zhou smiled, “Didn’t the old lady see she brought her clothes? She’ll stay a couple of days.” Xiangyun asked, “Is Cousin Baoyu not home?” Baochai laughed, “She never thinks of anyone else, only Cousin Baoyu—those two are so silly together. This shows she hasn’t changed her mischievous ways.” The Lady Dowager said, “Now you’re all older; don’t use childhood nicknames.” Just then, Baoyu arrived and said with a smile, “Cousin Yun is here. Why didn’t you come the other day when I sent someone to fetch you?” Lady Wang said, “The old lady just mentioned that, and now he’s calling names again.” Lin Daiyu said, “Your brother has gotten something good and is waiting for you.” Xiangyun asked, “What good thing?” Baoyu laughed, “Don’t believe her! You’ve grown taller since we last met a few days ago.” Xiangyun smiled, “Is Sister Xiren well?” Baoyu said, “Thank you for remembering her.” Xiangyun said, “I’ve brought her something good.” With that, she took out a handkerchief tied in a knot. Baoyu asked, “What good thing? You might as well have brought two of those russet stone ringlets you sent before for her.” Xiangyun smiled, “What’s this?” and opened it. Everyone looked and saw it was indeed the same russet stone ringlets as before, a packet of four. Lin Daiyu laughed, “Look at her idea! The other day you sent someone to bring us ours; why not just bring theirs along and save trouble? Today you’ve brought them yourself, and I thought it was something new, but it’s the same old thing. You really are a scatterbrain.” Xiangyun smiled, “You’re the scatterbrain! Let me explain this and have everyone judge who’s confused. When I send you gifts, the messenger doesn’t need to say anything—when they’re brought in, you know they’re for the young ladies. But if I bring theirs, I’d have to tell the messenger which is for which maid. If the messenger is clever, fine; but if they’re muddled and don’t remember the maids’ names, they’d mess everything up and confuse even your things. If I sent a woman who knows them, that would be all right, but the other day I sent a boy—how could I tell him the maids’ names? So I thought I’d bring them myself, and it’s all clear.” She set down the four ringlets and said, “One for Sister Xiren, one for Sister Yuanyang, one for Sister Jinchuan, and one for Sister Pinger—these are for the four of them. Would a boy remember them so clearly?” Everyone laughed and said, “That’s indeed clear.” Baoyu smiled, “You still talk so well and never give in.” Lin Daiyu sneered upon hearing this, “She can’t talk well, but her gold kylin can.” With that, she got up and left. Fortunately, no one else heard, except Xue Baochai, who suppressed a smile. Baoyu heard it and regretted his slip of the tongue; seeing Baochai smile, he couldn’t help but smile too. Baochai noticed Baoyu smiling, quickly got up, and went to find Lin Daiyu to talk.

Grandmother Jia said to Xiangyun, "Drink your tea and rest a while, then go see your sisters-in-law. The garden is also cool, so take a stroll with your cousins." Xiangyun agreed, wrapped up the three rings, rested for a bit, then got up to go visit Xifeng and the others. Accompanied by a crowd of nannies and maids, she arrived at Xifeng's place, chatted and laughed for a while, then left and headed for the Grand View Garden. After calling on Li Gongcai and sitting briefly, she went to Happy Red Court to look for Xiren. Turning around, she said, "You don't need to follow me; just go see your own friends and relatives. Leave Cuilü to attend me." Hearing this, the others each went off to find their aunts and sisters-in-law, leaving only Xiangyun and Cuilü. Cuilü said, "Why haven't these lotuses bloomed yet?" Shi Xiangyun replied, "It's not the right season." Cuilü said, "Are they the same as the ones in our pond, with double blossoms?" Xiangyun said, "Theirs aren't as good as ours." Cuilü said, "Over there they have a pomegranate tree with four or five branches growing together, truly blossoms upon blossoms—it's remarkable it grew that way." Shi Xiangyun said, "Plants and flowers are like people: if their vital energy is abundant, they grow well." Cuilü twisted her face away and said, "I don't believe that. If they're like people, why haven't I ever seen someone with another head growing out of their head?" Xiangyun couldn't help laughing and said, "I told you not to talk, but you insist on it. How is one supposed to answer that? Everything between heaven and earth is born from the two forces of yin and yang, whether upright or deviant, strange or bizarre, changing in a thousand ways—all due to the harmony or reversal of yin and yang. Among the countless people born, those rarely seen are considered peculiar, but in the end, the principle is the same." Cuilü said, "If that's so, then from ancient times to now, since the creation of heaven and earth, everything has been yin and yang?" Xiangyun laughed and said, "You foolish thing, the more you talk, the more nonsense you spout. What do you mean 'everything is yin and yang'? Is there another yin and yang besides? The two words 'yin' and 'yang' are actually one concept; when yang ends, it becomes yin, and when yin ends, it becomes yang. It's not like when yin ends, another yang is born, or when yang ends, another yin is born." Cuilü said, "This is truly baffling me to death! What is this yin and yang, formless and shapeless? I only ask you, miss, what does yin and yang look like?" Xiangyun said, "Yin and yang have no fixed form; they are just a kind of vital force that takes shape when endowed in things. For example, heaven is yang, and earth is yin; water is yin, and fire is yang; the sun is yang, and the moon is yin." Cuilü listened and laughed, "Right, right! Today I finally understand. No wonder everyone calls the sun 'the great yang,' and fortune-tellers call the moon 'the great yin star'—that's the same principle." Xiangyun laughed and said, "Amituofo! You've just barely understood." Cuilü said, "It's all well and good that these big things have yin and yang, but do mosquitoes, fleas, gnats, flowers, grass, roof tiles, and bricks also have yin and yang?" Xiangyun said, "How could they not have yin and yang? Take a single leaf, for instance—it still has yin and yang: the side facing upward toward the sun is yang, and the side facing downward in the shade is yin." Cuilü listened, nodded with a smile, and said, "So that's how it is—now I understand. But what about the fan in our hands? How is it yang, and how is it yin?" Xiangyun said, "This front side is yang, and that back side is yin." Cuilü nodded and laughed again, wanting to ask about more things but unable to think of any. Suddenly looking down, she saw the gold kylin hanging from Xiangyun's palace sash. She picked it up and asked, "Miss, does this also have yin and yang?" Xiangyun said, "Among beasts and birds, the male is yang and the female is yin; the mother is yin and the father is yang. How could it not have it?" Cuilü said, "Is this one male or female?" Xiangyun said, "Even I don't know that." Cuilü said, "That's fine, but why do things all have yin and yang, while we humans don't?" Xiangyun spat in her face and said, "You low creature, just go on your way! The more you ask, the more outrageous your questions become!" Cuilü laughed and said, "Why won't you tell me? I already know, so don't try to embarrass me." Xiangyun laughed and said, "What do you know?" Cuilü said, "You, miss, are yang, and I am yin." As she spoke, Xiangyun covered her mouth with her handkerchief and laughed heartily. Cuilü said, "If I'm right, you laugh like that." Xiangyun said, "Very right, very right." Cuilü said, "By custom, the master is yang and the servant is yin. Don't I even understand that great principle?" Xiangyun laughed and said, "You understand very well." Talking as they walked, they had just reached the rose trellis when Xiangyun said, "Look, whose hairpin is that over there, glittering with gold?" Cuilü heard this, hurried over, picked it up, and clutched it in her hand, laughing, "Now we can tell yin and yang apart." She first looked at Shi Xiangyun's kylin. Xiangyun wanted to see the one she had picked up, but Cuilü wouldn't let go, laughing, "It's a treasure, miss, you shouldn't look at it. Where did this come from? How strange! I've never seen anyone here have one of these." Xiangyun laughed and said, "Let me see it." Cuilü opened her hand and said, "Look." Xiangyun glanced at it and saw it was a brilliantly patterned gold kylin, larger and more ornate than the one she wore. Xiangyun reached out and held it in her palm, silent and lost in thought. Suddenly she saw Baoyu coming from over there. He asked with a smile, "What are you two doing out here in the sun? Why aren't you looking for Xiren?" Xiangyun quickly hid the kylin and said, "We were just about to go. Let's go together." So saying, they all entered Happy Red Court. Xiren was leaning on the railing at the foot of the steps, enjoying the breeze, when she suddenly saw Xiangyun coming. She quickly went down to greet her, took her hand, and chatted about their long separation. Soon they sat down inside, and Baoyu said with a laugh, "You should have come earlier. I got a good thing and was waiting especially for you." As he spoke, he felt around in his clothes, searched for a long time, and then cried out, "Ah!" He asked Xiren, "Did you put that thing away?" Xiren said, "What thing?" Baoyu said, "The kylin I got the day before yesterday." Xiren said, "You wear it on you every day, why ask me?" Hearing this, Baoyu clapped his hands and said, "It's lost! Where can I find it?" He was about to get up and search himself. Xiangyun, upon hearing this, realized it was the one he had dropped, so she asked with a smile, "When did you get another kylin?" Baoyu said, "I got it with great difficulty the day before yesterday. I don't know when I lost it—I'm so confused." Xiangyun laughed and said, "Luckily it's just a trinket, yet you're so flustered." So saying, she opened her hand and said, "Look, isn't this it?" Baoyu saw it and was overjoyed, and was about to speak... But to learn what happened, listen to the next chapter's explanation.