Chapter 81: The four beauties fish for a good omen; Following strict orders, Baoyu returns to the family school

CHAPTER 81

In Which Four Young Ladies Angle for Fish to Augur Their Fortunes, and Baoyu Is Twice Sent to the Family School on a Strict Injunction

To resume: After Yingchun had gone back to the Sun household, Lady Xing behaved as if nothing had happened. But Lady Wang, who had brought up the girl, was deeply distressed. She was sighing to herself in her room when Baoyu came in to pay his respects. Noticing traces of tears on his mother’s face, he did not venture to sit down, but stood by her side. When Lady Wang asked him to sit, he edged onto the kang and sat down beside her. She saw him staring blankly ahead, as if he had something to say but was holding back.

“Why are you staring like that again?” she asked.

“It’s nothing,” said Baoyu. “But yesterday, when I saw what Second Sister had to put up with, I felt terribly sorry for her. I didn’t dare tell Grandmother, but I haven’t slept a wink for the last two nights. Girls from a family like ours ought not to have to endure such treatment. Besides, Second Sister is so meek, she’s never been able to stand up for herself. And to think she should have run into such a heartless brute, a man who doesn’t have the least idea how a woman suffers!” He was almost in tears.

“There’s nothing to be done about it,” said Lady Wang. “As the saying goes, ‘A married daughter is like spilled water.’ What can I do?”

“Last night I hit on an idea,” said Baoyu. “Why don’t we tell Grandmother straight out and have Second Sister fetched home again? Let her stay in her Purple Caltrop Isle as before, and have our meals and fun together again, so that she won’t have to put up with that scoundrel Sun’s temper. And when he comes to fetch her, we simply won’t let her go. Let him come a hundred times, we’ll keep her back a hundred times, and we can just say it was Grandmother’s idea. Wouldn’t that be a good plan?”

Lady Wang was both amused and exasperated. “There you go again, talking nonsense in a fit of foolishness!” she said. “Once a girl is born, she’s bound to marry sooner or later and go to her husband’s family. Her own family can’t look after her forever. She has to trust to her own fate: if she’s lucky, well and good; if not, there’s no help for it. Haven’t you heard the saying, ‘Marry a cock and follow the cock; marry a dog and follow the dog’? How can every girl be like your elder sister who became an Imperial Consort? Besides, your Second Sister is a new bride, and Mr. Sun is still young. Everyone has his own temper, and when you’re newly married, there are bound to be some rough patches. In a few years, when they get to know each other’s dispositions and have children, things will be better. On no account must you breathe a word of this to your grandmother. If I find out you have, I won’t let you off. Now go and attend to your own affairs, and stop talking such rubbish here.”

Baoyu dared not say another word. He sat there for a while, then slunk out, utterly dejected. Full of pent-up anger with no way to vent it, he went into the Garden and made straight for the Bamboo Lodge.

As soon as he entered the gate, he burst into loud sobs. Daiyu had just finished her toilet and was startled to see him in such a state. “What’s the matter?” she asked. “Who have you been quarrelling with?” She asked several times, but Baoyu only hung his head, buried his face in his arms on the table, and sobbed so hard he couldn’t speak. Daiyu stared at him in astonishment from her chair. After a while she asked, “Has someone else been quarrelling with you, or have I offended you?”

Baoyu waved his hand. “Neither, neither,” he said.

“Then why are you so upset?” asked Daiyu.

“I just think the sooner we all die, the better. There’s no pleasure at all in living!” said Baoyu.

Daiyu was even more startled. “What kind of talk is that?” she said. “Have you really gone mad?”

“I’m not mad,” said Baoyu. “If I tell you, you can’t help being upset too. The way Second Sister looked and the things she said the day before yesterday—you saw and heard them too. When people grow up, why do they have to get married? And then to be married off and suffer such misery! Do you remember when we first started the Begonia Poetry Club, how we wrote poems and played host? What fun we had then! Now Sister Baochai has gone home, and even Xiangling can’t come over. Second Sister has married. None of the people who understand us are together any more, and everything has come to this. I thought I’d go and tell Grandmother to fetch Second Sister back, but Mother wouldn’t let me—she said I was being foolish and talking nonsense—so I didn’t dare say anything more. It won’t be long now—just look at the Garden. It’s already changed so much. In a few more years, who knows what it will be like? The more I think about it, the more miserable I feel.”

As Daiyu listened, her head gradually drooped. She moved back slowly to the kang, said not a word, sighed, and lay down with her face to the wall.

Zijuan had just brought in the tea. Seeing them both in such a state, she was puzzled. Just then Xiren arrived and, catching sight of Baoyu, said, “So you’re here, Master Bao. Her Old Ladyship is asking for you. I guessed you’d be here.”

When Daiyu heard it was Xiren, she sat up to offer her a seat. Both her eyes were red from crying. Baoyu noticed and said, “Sister, what I said just now was only foolishness. You mustn’t upset yourself. If you think about my words, you must take even better care of your health. Why don’t you rest now? Grandmother is calling me. I’ll go and see what she wants, and come back soon.” With that he went out.

Xiren asked Daiyu in a low voice, “What have you two been up to again?”

“He was upset about his Second Sister,” said Daiyu. “As for me, I just rubbed my eyes because they itched. It’s nothing.”

Xiren said no more but hurried after Baoyu, and they went their separate ways. Baoyu went to Lady Jia’s apartments, but she was already taking her midday nap, so he had to go back to Happy Red Court. In the afternoon he woke from his nap feeling very bored and picked up a book at random. Seeing him reading, Xiren hastened to brew some tea and wait on him. The book he had picked up happened to be the Ancient Airs of the Music Bureau. He leafed through it idly and came upon Cao Mengde’s poem beginning, “Fiddling while drinking, how long is man’s life?” It struck him to the heart. He put it down and picked up another, which turned out to be the Works of Jin. After a few pages he suddenly closed the book, rested his chin on his hand, and sat lost in thought. Xiren brought in the tea and, seeing him like this, asked, “Why have you stopped reading?”

Baoyu made no reply, took the tea, drank a mouthful, and put the cup down. Xiren could not make him out and stood beside him, staring blankly. Suddenly Baoyu stood up and muttered to himself, “A fine thing, that ‘abandoning oneself beyond the bounds of physical form’!”

Xiren was amused but didn’t dare ask him what he meant. She simply urged him, “If you don’t like reading these books, you’d better go for a stroll in the Garden. It will stop you from moping and falling ill.”

Baoyu answered vaguely, but his mind was elsewhere as he walked out.

They presently reached the Drenched Blossoms Pavilion, where they saw only a bleak and desolate scene—people gone and rooms empty. Then they arrived at the Alpinia Park, where the fragrant plants remained as before, but the doors and windows were tightly shut. Turning past the Lotus Fragrance Pavilion, they saw from a distance several people leaning on the railing by the Smartweed Brook, with a few young maids crouching on the ground looking for something. Baoyu quietly went behind a rockery to listen. He heard one voice say, “Let’s see if it floats up or not.” It sounded like Li Wen’s voice. Another laughed, “Good, it’s gone down. I knew it wouldn’t come up.” This was Tanchun’s voice. Another said, “That’s right, sister, don’t move. Just wait. It will come up sooner or later.” Another said, “It’s come up.” These were the voices of Li Qi and Xing Xiuyan. Baoyu couldn’t help himself; he picked up a small brick and tossed it into the water with a plop. The four women were all startled and exclaimed, “Who’s being so mischievous? You gave us a fright!” Baoyu jumped out from behind the rockery with a laugh, saying, “You’re having such a good time—why didn’t you call me?” Tanchun said, “I knew it could be no one else—it must be Second Brother being so naughty. There’s nothing to say for it; you’ll have to make up for our fish. Just now a fish came up, and I was about to catch it when you scared it away.” Baoyu laughed, “You’re playing here without finding me—I ought to penalize you instead.” They all laughed for a while. Baoyu said, “Let’s all fish today to see whose luck is best. Whoever catches one will have good luck this year; whoever doesn’t will have bad luck. Who’ll go first?” Tanchun yielded to Li Wen, but Li Wen declined. Tanchun laughed, “Then I’ll go first.” Turning to Baoyu, she said, “Second Brother, if you scare my fish away again, I won’t let you off.” Baoyu said, “Earlier I was just trying to startle you for fun. Now go ahead and fish.” Tanchun cast her silk line, and in less than the time it takes to say a dozen words, a willow-leaf fish bit the hook and pulled the float under. Tanchun flicked her rod and tossed the fish onto the ground, where it flopped about vigorously. Shishu scrambled after it, caught it with both hands, and placed it in a small porcelain jar filled with clear water to keep it alive. Tanchun handed the rod to Li Wen. Li Wen also cast her line, but feeling a slight tug, she quickly lifted it—only to find the hook empty. She cast again; after a while the line moved, and she lifted it again—still empty. Li Wen took the hook and examined it, discovering it was bent inward. She laughed, “No wonder I couldn’t catch anything.” She quickly called Suyun to straighten the hook, put on a fresh worm, and attached a reed float. After casting and waiting a moment, she saw the reed sink straight down. She hurriedly pulled it up and found a two-inch-long crucian carp. Li Wen laughed, “Elder Brother Bao, it’s your turn.” Baoyu said, “Let Third Sister and Sister Xing fish first, then I’ll go.” Xiuyan said nothing. Then Li Qi said, “Elder Brother Bao, you go first.” As she spoke, a bubble rose on the water’s surface. Tanchun said, “No need to keep deferring. Look, the fish are all over near Third Sister’s spot—Third Sister should fish quickly.” Li Qi took the rod with a laugh, and as soon as she cast, it sank and she caught one. Then Xiuyan also caught one, and handed the rod back to Tanchun, who then passed it to Baoyu. Baoyu said, “I intend to be like Jiang Taigong.” He walked down the stone steps, sat by the pool, and began fishing. But the fish in the water, seeing his shadow, all fled elsewhere. Baoyu waited with his rod for a long time, but the line didn’t move at all. Just as a fish came to the water’s edge to blow bubbles, Baoyu twitched his rod and scared it away again. Frustrated, Baoyu exclaimed, “I’m the most impatient person, but it’s being so slow—what can I do? Good fish, come quickly! Do me a favor, won’t you?” The four women all laughed. Before the words were finished, the line gave a slight twitch. Baoyu was overjoyed; he yanked hard upward, banging the rod against a stone and snapping it in two. The line also broke, and the hook disappeared somewhere. The others laughed even more. Tanchun said, “I’ve never seen anyone so rash as you.” Just then, Sheyue came running up flustered, saying, “Master Bao, the old lady has woken up and is calling for you to go quickly.” The five of them were startled. Tanchun asked Sheyue, “What does the old lady want with Second Brother?” Sheyue replied, “I don’t know. I only heard her say something about a disturbance, and she wants Bao Yu to come and be questioned, and also to call for Second Sister Lian to investigate together.” Baoyu was terrified and stood dazed for a moment, then said, “I wonder which maid has run into trouble.” Tanchun said, “No matter what it is, Second Brother, go quickly. If you get any news, send Sheyue back to tell us.” With that, she left with Li Wen, Li Qi, and Xiuyan.

Baoyu went to Lady Jia’s room, where he saw Lady Wang playing cards with Lady Jia. Seeing nothing amiss, half his anxiety subsided. When Lady Jia saw him enter, she asked, “During that serious illness you had two years ago, you were later cured by a mad monk and a lame Taoist. At the time of your illness, how did you feel?” Baoyu thought for a moment and said, “I remember when I fell ill, I was standing there perfectly fine, when it felt as if someone behind me struck me on the head with a club. The pain made everything go black before my eyes, and I saw the whole room full of hideous demons with green faces and fangs, brandishing knives and clubs. Lying on the kang, I felt as if several iron bands were being tightened around my head. After that, the pain was so bad I lost all consciousness. When I began to recover, I remember a golden light shining from the main hall straight into my room, and all those ghosts fled in terror and vanished. My head stopped hurting, and my mind became clear.” Lady Jia said to Lady Wang, “That sounds about right.”

As she was speaking, Xifeng also entered. After paying her respects to Grandmother Jia, she turned and greeted Lady Wang, saying, “Ancestor, what did you wish to ask me?” Grandmother Jia said, “When you were afflicted with that evil illness two years ago, do you remember what it was like?” Xifeng laughed and said, “I don’t remember it very well. I only felt that my body was not my own, as if some demons were pulling and dragging me, wanting me to kill someone. I would grab whatever was at hand, see something and kill it. I felt exhausted, but I couldn’t stop.” Grandmother Jia asked, “When you recovered, did you remember anything?” Xifeng said, “When I got better, it seemed as if someone in the air had spoken a few words, but I don’t recall what was said.” Grandmother Jia said, “From this, it must have been her. The symptoms of those two girls during their illnesses were exactly as you described. That old wretch has such a wicked heart. Baoyu was wrong to take her as his godmother. It’s that monk and Taoist, Amitabha, who saved Baoyu’s life, but we haven’t repaid them.” Xifeng said, “How did you come to think of our illnesses, Ancestor?” Grandmother Jia said, “Ask your lady; I’m too lazy to speak of it.” Lady Wang said, “Just now, your father came in and said that Baoyu’s godmother is a contemptible creature, given to evil practices and heresies. Now it’s all come out, and she’s been arrested by the Embroidered Jackets and sent to the Ministry of Punishments, where she’s to be tried for a capital crime. Someone denounced her a few days ago. The man is called Pan Sanbao. He sold a house to the pawnshop across the street. The price was increased several times, but Pan Sanbao wanted even more, and the pawnshop wouldn’t agree. So Pan Sanbao bribed that old creature. Since she often went to the pawnshop, the women of the pawnshop owner’s family were all friendly with her. She used some sorcery to make people in that household fall ill and throw the whole place into chaos. Then she went and said she could cure the illness, burned some paper spirit horses and money as offerings, and it worked. She then demanded more than ten taels of silver from the women. But, wouldn’t you know, the Old Buddha had eyes and it was doomed to be exposed. One day, in a hurry to leave, she dropped a silk pouch. Someone at the pawnshop picked it up and found inside many paper figures and four balls of very fragrant incense. While they were wondering about it, the old creature came back looking for the pouch. The people there seized her, searched her, and found a box containing two ivory carvings—a naked man and woman, two demons, and seven vermilion embroidered needles. They immediately sent her to the Embroidered Jackets, where she confessed to many secret affairs of officials’ wives and daughters. So they notified the garrison, ransacked her home, and found many clay statues of evil spirits and several boxes of bewitching incense. Behind the kang, in an empty room, hung a seven-star lamp, beneath which were several figures—some with iron bands around their heads, some with nails driven into their chests, some with locks around their necks. In a chest were countless paper figures, and underneath, several ledgers recording how much silver was due from each household that had been ‘cured.’ The amount of oil money and incense offerings she collected was beyond counting.” Xifeng said, “Our illnesses—it must have been her. I remember that after we fell ill, that old demon came to Aunt Zhao’s place several times, asking for money. When she saw me, her face changed color, and her eyes were as black as a hen’s. I suspected something at the time, but I never understood the reason. Now that you mention it, it all makes sense. But I manage things here, so naturally I make enemies, and it’s no wonder someone would scheme against me. But what grudge does Baoyu bear anyone, that they would use such cruel means?” Grandmother Jia said, “Who knows if it wasn’t because I favor Baoyu over Huan’er that they planted poison against you?” Lady Wang said, “That old thing has already been convicted, so we can’t very well bring her here to testify. Without evidence, Aunt Zhao would never admit it. The matter is serious, and if it comes out, it would be unseemly. Let her reap what she sows; it will come to light soon enough.” Grandmother Jia said, “What you say is reasonable. Without evidence, it’s hard to be certain. But the Buddha and the Bodhisattvas see clearly. Those two girls now—who says they’re not doing well? Enough of the past, Feng’er, don’t mention it anymore. Today, you and your lady stay here for dinner before going back.” She then told Yuanyang and Hupo to call for the meal. Xifeng quickly laughed and said, “How can the Ancestor trouble herself!” Lady Wang also smiled. Just then, several serving women were seen waiting outside. Xifeng hurriedly told the maids to bring the meal: “I and the lady will both eat with the Ancestor.” As she spoke, Yuchuan’er came in and said to Lady Wang, “The master is looking for something; he asks that you attend to the Ancestor’s meal and then come look for it yourself.” Grandmother Jia said, “Go on; the master likely has important business.” Lady Wang assented, left Xifeng to attend to things, and withdrew.

Returning to her room, she exchanged some casual words with Jia Zheng and found the item he was looking for. Jia Zheng then asked, “Yingchun has already gone back. How is she doing in the Sun family?” Lady Wang said, “Yingchun is full of tears; she says that Sun Shaozu is terribly brutal.” She then recounted Yingchun’s words. Jia Zheng sighed and said, “I knew from the start that it was not a good match, but the elder master had already decided, and I could do nothing about it. Yingchun will just have to endure some hardship.” Lady Wang said, “She’s still a new bride; let’s hope things improve later.” As she spoke, she gave a sudden laugh. Jia Zheng said, “What are you laughing at?” Lady Wang said, “I’m laughing at Baoyu. This morning, he came especially to my room and said nothing but childish things.” Jia Zheng said, “What did he say?” Lady Wang laughingly recounted Baoyu’s words. Jia Zheng couldn’t help laughing either, and then said, “Since you mention Baoyu, I’m reminded of something. It’s not right to keep that boy in the Garden all day. A daughter who’s useless is still someone else’s concern, but a son who’s no good is a serious matter. The other day, someone recommended a tutor to me—excellent in both learning and character, also from the south. But I think southern tutors are too easygoing. The boys in our city are all clever and mischievous, and they can fool a lenient teacher. They’re bold, and if the tutor is unwilling to shame them, he’ll just humor them like children and waste time. That’s why the older generation never hired outside tutors but chose elderly, learned men from the clan to teach the family school. Now, although Old Master Ru’s scholarship is only average, he can still keep the boys in line without being negligent. I think it’s not good for Baoyu to be idle; better to send him back to the family school to study.” Lady Wang said, “What you say is very true. Since you left for your post, he’s often been ill and has fallen behind for several years. Now it would be good for him to review his studies at home.” Jia Zheng nodded, and they talked of other things. No more of this.

The next morning, Baoyu got up, washed and dressed, and soon a young servant came with a message: “The master summons the Second Master.” Baoyu quickly straightened his clothes and went to Jia Zheng’s study, where he stood and made his obeisance. Jia Zheng said, “What lessons have you been doing lately? Though you’ve written a few pages of calligraphy, that hardly counts for anything. From what I see, you’re even more idle than you were a few years ago. I often hear that you feign illness to avoid studying. Now that you’re better, I still hear that you spend every day in the Garden laughing and joking with your sisters, even fooling around with the maids, completely neglecting your proper business. Even if you write a few poems, they’re nothing special—what’s so remarkable about them? In the examinations and selections, essays are what matter, and you’ve put no effort into them at all. Let me warn you: from today onward, you are not to write any more poems or couplets. You are to focus solely on learning the eight-legged essay. I give you one year. If there’s no improvement, you needn’t bother studying at all, and I won’t want a son like you.” He then called for Li Gui and said, “Tomorrow morning, have Peiming go with Baoyu to gather the books he needs for study, and bring them all to me. I will take him to the family school myself.” He then ordered Baoyu, “Go now! Come to see me early tomorrow morning.” Baoyu listened, but for a long time could find nothing to say in reply. He then returned to Happy Red Court.

Xiren was anxiously waiting for news, and when she heard that they wanted to take books, she was actually pleased. But Baoyu wanted someone to send a message immediately to the Dowager, intending to have her stop him. When the Dowager received the message, she ordered someone to summon Baoyu and told him: "Just set your mind at ease and go first; don't make your father angry. If there's any trouble for you, I'll handle it." Baoyu had no choice but to return and instruct the maids: "Call me early tomorrow morning; Father is waiting to see me off to the family school." Xiren and the others agreed, and she and Sheyue took turns staying awake through the night.

Early the next morning, Xiren woke Baoyu, washed and combed him, changed his clothes, and sent a young maid to have Beiming wait at the inner gate, holding the books and other items. Xiren urged him twice more, and Baoyu had to go out to Jia Zheng's study, first inquiring: "Has the master come yet?" The page boy in the study replied: "Just now a gentleman guest asked to speak with the master, but it was said he was washing up inside, and the guest was told to go out and wait." When Baoyu heard this, he felt a little calmer and quickly went to Jia Zheng's quarters. Just then, Jia Zheng sent someone to summon him, and Baoyu followed him in. Jia Zheng could not help but give a few more instructions, then took Baoyu into the carriage, with Beiming carrying the books, and they went straight to the family school.

Someone had already hurried ahead to inform Dai Ru: "The master is coming." Dai Ru stood up, and Jia Zheng entered, greeting Dai Ru with a bow. Dai Ru took his hand and asked after his health, then inquired: "Is the old lady well these days?" Baoyu came forward and also paid his respects. Jia Zheng stood, invited Dai Ru to sit, and then sat down himself. Jia Zheng said: "Today I have brought him myself, because I wish to entrust him to your care. This child is no longer young; he must at least learn the proper pursuits of a grown man, for that is the foundation for a lifelong career and fame. At home, he only messes around with some children; though he knows a few lines of poetry, it is all random nonsense. Even if it were good, it would only be about wind, clouds, moonlight, and dew, with no connection to the serious matters of life." Dai Ru said: "I see his appearance is quite presentable, and his intellect is not bad. Why doesn't he study? It's just that his mind is wild and he loves to play. Poetry is not something that cannot be learned, but it’s not too late to learn it after he has achieved success." Jia Zheng said: "That is exactly it. For now, I only ask that he be made to read books, discuss texts, and write essays. If he does not heed instruction, I beg you, sir, to discipline him strictly, so that he does not waste his whole life in name only." After finishing, he stood up and made another bow, then exchanged some idle talk before taking his leave. Dai Ru saw him to the door, saying: "Please remember me to the old lady and give her my regards." Jia Zheng agreed, got into his carriage, and left.

Dai Ru turned back and entered, seeing Baoyu at a small rosewood table by the southwest corner window, with two sets of old books piled on the right and a thin volume of essays. He told Beiming to put the paper, ink, brush, and inkstone into the drawer for safekeeping. Dai Ru said: "Baoyu, I heard you were ill the other day. Are you fully recovered now?" Baoyu stood up and said: "I am fully recovered." Dai Ru said: "Now that we are talking about it, you really should apply yourself. Your father is exceedingly earnest in hoping you will become a man. Start by reviewing all the books you have studied before, from the beginning. Every morning, early, review your books; after breakfast, practice calligraphy; at noon, discuss texts and read a few essays. That will be enough." Baoyu answered with a "Yes," and turned to sit down, but could not help looking around. He saw that a few of the former students like Jin Rong were missing, and a few new young pupils had been added, all of whom were extremely coarse. Suddenly, he thought of Qin Zhong; now there was no one to be his companion and share heartfelt words with. His heart grew melancholy and displeased, but he dared not make a sound, so he just silently looked at his books. Dai Ru told Baoyu: "Today is the first day, so I'll let you go home early. Tomorrow we will discuss texts. But since you are not very dull, tomorrow I will have you first explain a chapter or two to me, to test how your recent lessons are progressing, so I can know what level you are at." These words made Baoyu's heart pound with anxiety. If you want to know how the explanation goes the next day, listen to the next chapter for the resolution.