Chapter 10

Chapter 10

Chapter 10

The Widow Jin Yields to Greed and Suffers Insult

Dr. Zhang Diagnoses an Illness and Traces Its Origin

In the last chapter, Jin Rong, finding himself outnumbered and pressured by Jia Rui, had made amends and kowtowed to Qin Zhong, after which Baoyu finally stopped making a fuss. When everyone dispersed from the school, Jin Rong returned home, growing angrier by the moment. "Qin Zhong is only Jia Rong's brother-in-law," he said. "He's not even a descendant of the Jia family. He's just attached himself to the school to study, no different from me. But because Baoyu is friendly with him, he acts as though no one else exists. If he carries on like that, he ought to behave properly—then no one could say a word against him. But he's always sneaking around with Baoyu as if everyone were blind and couldn't see them. Today he went after someone again, and it just happened to fall under my eyes. Even if trouble came of it, what would I have to fear?"

His mother, Madam Hu, heard him muttering away and asked, "What quarrel are you picking now? I had a hard enough time getting your aunt to speak on your behalf. Your aunt went to great lengths to speak to the Lian Second Master's wife in the Western Mansion before you got this place to study. If not for relying on them, does our family have the means to hire a tutor? Besides, at their school, tea is provided and meals are provided. These two years you've been studying there, the family has saved a great deal on food and expenses. What you've saved, you spend on bright, fancy clothes. Moreover, isn't it because you study there that you've gotten to know Master Xue? That Master Xue has been giving you stipends year after year—these past two years he's helped us to the tune of seventy or eighty taels of silver. If you cause trouble and get yourself expelled from that school, and then try to find another place like it, I'll tell you—it would be harder than climbing to heaven! You'd better behave yourself, go play a while, and get to sleep. That's the best thing for you." And so Jin Rong swallowed his anger, and before long he went to sleep on his own. The next day he went to school as before. Let us speak no more of this.

Now, his aunt had originally been betrothed to a legitimate descendant of the Jia family's "Yu" generation by the name of Jia Huang. But none of his kin could compare with the wealth and power of the Ning and Rong households—this need not be elaborated. Jia Huang and his wife managed their small estate and frequently called at the Ning and Rong mansions to pay their respects, and they knew how to flatter both Xifeng and Madam You. For this reason, Xifeng and Madam You often gave them financial assistance, which allowed them to get by as they did.

It happened that the day was fine and clear, and there was nothing pressing at home, so Jia Huang's wife brought a servant woman, got into a carriage, and came to visit her sister-in-law and nephew.

During their idle conversation, Jin Rong's mother happened to bring up the previous day's incident at the Jia family school, telling her sister-in-law everything from beginning to end in full detail. The wife of Jia Huang—this "Elder Jia Huang's wife"—before hearing it would have been one thing; but upon hearing it, anger rose in her heart at once. "That little whelp Qin Zhong is a relative of the Jia family, but isn't Rong'er also a relative of the Jia family? People shouldn't be so status-conscious! Besides, what fine and honorable deeds are they all engaged in? Even Baoyu has no business favoring him to such an extent. I'll go to the East Mansion and have a look at our First Mistress Zhen, then speak to Qin Zhong's sister and have her judge this matter fairly."

When Jin's mother heard these words, she was frantic. "It was my loose tongue, telling you all this, Aunt. Please don't go—don't meddle in their affairs, whoever is right or wrong. If trouble comes of it, how could we stand our ground there? And if we can't stand our ground, not only will we be unable to hire a tutor at home, but we'll end up having to spend even more on account of him."

But the Elder Jia Huang's wife replied, "I can't worry about all that. Just let me go and speak my mind—we'll see what happens!" She would not listen to her sister-in-law's pleas. She had the servant woman look to the carriage, and got in to go straight to the Ning mansion.

When they arrived at the Ning Mansion and passed through the carriage gate, she alighted at the small eastern side gate and went in to see Jia Zhen's wife, You-shi. She did not dare put on airs, but greeted her warmly and politely, exchanged pleasantries for a while, and then asked, "Why haven't I seen Sister-in-law Rong today?"

You-shi replied, "These past few days she hasn't been herself. Her monthly period is now over two months late. We called in a doctor, but he says it's not a pregnancy. The last couple of days, by the afternoon she's been too lazy to move, too lazy to speak, and her eyes have been swimming. I told her, 'You needn't stand on ceremony. You don't have to come over morning and evening as usual—just rest and take care of yourself. If relatives come, I'll be here to receive them. If any of the elders find fault with you, I'll explain on your behalf.' Even I told Young Master Rong, 'Don't you wear her out, don't you make her angry. Let her rest quietly and she'll be fine. If she wants anything to eat, let her have it from me. If I don't have it here, she can get it from your Second Aunt Lian. If anything should happen to her and you wanted to find another daughter-in-law with her looks and temperament, you could search with a lantern and not find one anywhere.' The way she conducts herself—which relative, which elder in the family doesn't love her? That's why these past two days I've been so worried I'm beside myself. And this very morning her younger brother came to see her. Who'd have thought that boy wouldn't know any better? When he saw his sister wasn't feeling well, he should have kept things to himself—let alone a matter as small as this. Even if you'd been wronged a thousand times over, you shouldn't have told him. But it turns out they were fighting in the school yesterday—some outsider studying there bullied him. Along with that, there were some foul things said, and he told his sister everything all the same. Auntie, you know that daughter-in-law of ours: though she can be sociable and pleasant with people and knows how to handle things, she's very sensitive and takes everything to heart. No matter what she hears, she'll turn it over in her mind for three to five days before she lets it go. This illness came from that very disposition of hers—from worrying too much. Today, hearing that someone had bullied her brother, she was both angry and upset. Angry at that pack of good-for-nothing troublemakers, those gossips and meddlers, and upset that her brother wasn't behaving properly and wasn't applying himself to his studies, which led to the fighting in school. After hearing all this, she didn't even eat breakfast today. When I found out, I went over to comfort her for a while and then talked to her brother as well. I sent her brother over to the other mansion to look for Baoyu, and only after that did I see her drink half a bowl of bird's nest soup. Then I came over here. Auntie, tell me—am I not worried sick? And besides, there's no good doctor to be found. When I think about her illness, my heart feels as if it's being pricked with needles. Do you know of any good doctor?"

After listening to all this, Jin-shi had long since lost all the righteous indignation she had been nursing to take up with Qin-shi back at her sister-in-law's house—it had been frightened clean out of her and swept clear to Java. When she heard You-shi ask whether she knew of a good doctor, she hastily replied, "From what we've heard, we truly haven't seen anyone mention a good doctor. But thinking about what you've said about the young mistress, it can't be a pregnancy after all. Sister-in-law, don't let just anyone treat her. If they misdiagnose it, that would be disastrous."

You-shi said, "Exactly."

Just then Jia Zhen came in from outside. Seeing Jin-shi, he said to You-shi, "Isn't this Sister Huang?"

Jin-shi stepped forward and greeted Jia Zhen. Jia Zhen said to You-shi, "Let this young sister stay for a meal before she goes." With that, Jia Zhen went into the other room.

Jin-shi had originally come to tell Qin-shi about how Qin Zhong had bullied her nephew. But upon hearing that Qin-shi was ill, she not only couldn't bring it up—she didn't dare mention it. Moreover, Jia Zhen and You-shi had treated her so warmly that her anger turned to pleasure. After chatting a bit longer, she went home.

After Madam Jin had left, Jia Zhen came over and sat down. He asked Madam You, "Did she come today with any particular business?" Madam You replied, "Not really. When she first came in, she looked rather vexed about something, but after we had talked for a while and she brought up our daughter-in-law's illness, her expression gradually calmed down. Then you asked her to stay for a meal, but hearing how ill our daughter-in-law is, she felt she couldn't very well sit there any longer. She made a few more remarks and left, without asking for anything. But speaking of our daughter-in-law's illness, you must find a good doctor somewhere to examine her — that's the important thing, don't let it be delayed. The crowd of doctors our family has been calling in are all worthless. Every one of them just listens to what people say, and then adds a few flowery phrases of his own. They're extremely attentive, I must say — three or four of them taking turns coming four or five times a day to feel her pulse. They all get together and discuss a prescription, but after she takes it there's no improvement. Instead, she has to change her clothes four or five times a day and get up to receive the doctors, which really does the patient no good at all."

Jia Zhen said, "That's true. The girl is being foolish too, with all this changing of clothes. If she catches cold on top of everything else, that will add another layer of illness — that would be serious. No matter how fine her clothes are, what does it matter? The child's health is what's important. Even if she wore a brand-new outfit every day, it wouldn't matter. I came in just now to tell you: Feng Ziyang came to see me earlier. He noticed I looked somewhat melancholy and asked me what was wrong. I told him that our daughter-in-law had suddenly come down with a serious indisposition, and since we couldn't get a good physician, we couldn't tell whether it was a pregnancy or an illness, or whether there was cause for concern or not, so I had been very worried these past two days. Feng Ziyang then mentioned a teacher he had studied with as a child, a man named Zhang Youshi, a man of the broadest learning who also had an exceptionally deep understanding of medicine and could even foretell whether a person would live or die. He had come to the capital this year to purchase an official post for his son and was staying at his residence. It seems it was destined that our daughter-in-law's illness should be cured by him. I immediately sent someone with my card to invite him. If it's too late today for him to come, he will certainly come tomorrow. Besides, Feng Ziyang went back home personally to urge him and make sure he comes to have a look. We'll wait until this Dr. Zhang has examined her before we decide anything further."

When Madam You heard this, she was very pleased, and said, "The day after tomorrow is the Old Master's birthday. What shall we do about it?" Jia Zhen said, "I went to the Old Master's residence earlier to pay my respects and also to invite him home to receive the congratulations of the whole family. The Old Master said, 'I am accustomed to a quiet life and have no wish to go making a commotion among all your worldly affairs. You will say it is my birthday and want me to go and receive the bows of everyone — but rather than having me receive people's salutations for no good reason, it would be a hundred times better if you would have someone make a clean copy of the *Yinwen* that I annotated in the past and have it printed. If the family is to come the day after tomorrow, simply entertain them properly at home. You needn't send me any gifts, and you needn't come yourself the day after tomorrow either. If your conscience bothers you, you can kowtow to me right now, today. But if you come the day after tomorrow and bring a crowd of people to disturb me, I will not stand for it.' He said this over and over again, so I certainly won't dare go the day after tomorrow. Now send for Lai Sheng and have him prepare the banquet for the two days."

Madam You had someone call Jia Rong and said to him, "Tell Lai Sheng to prepare the two days' banquets according to the usual standard, and make them generous. Then go in person to the West Mansion and invite the Old Lady, the Elder Madam, the Second Madam, and your Second Aunt Lian to come for a visit. Your father has just heard of a good doctor and has already sent someone to invite him — he will surely come tomorrow. You must tell him in detail about your wife's symptoms these past days."

Jia Rong assented to everything and went out. He happened to meet the servant who had gone to Feng Ziyang's house to invite the doctor, and the man reported, "I went to Master Feng's house just now with Your Lordship's card to invite the doctor. The doctor said, 'The master here has already spoken to me about it. But I have been paying calls all day and only just returned home. I really don't have the strength at the moment — even if I went to the mansion, I wouldn't be able to feel the pulse.' He said he would rest tonight and would certainly come to the mansion tomorrow. He also said, 'My medical knowledge is shallow, and I really don't dare accept such a weighty recommendation. But since Master Feng and the master of your household have both spoken to me this way, I have no choice but to go. Please convey my respects to your master for me. I really cannot presume to accept his card.' He had me bring it back. Please report this for me, young master."

Jia Rong turned around and went back inside to report to Jia Zhen and Madam You. Then he came out again and summoned Lai Sheng, instructing him to prepare the two days' banquets. Lai Sheng listened, then went off to make the arrangements as usual. But no more of this.

The next day at noon, a servant came back and reported: "The Dr. Zhang you invited has arrived." Thereupon Jia Zhen ushered him into the main hall and invited him to sit down. After tea had been served, Jia Zhen opened the conversation: "Yesterday Brother Feng informed me of your character and learning, sir, and also of your deep knowledge of medicine. I cannot express my profound admiration." Dr. Zhang replied: "Your humble servant is a coarse and inferior scholar with shallow and limited learning. Yesterday, when Brother Feng told me of the humility and courtesy with which great families condescend to scholars, and since you were kind enough to send for me, how could I dare disobey? But having no real learning, I am doubly abashed." Jia Zhen said, "Sir, there is no need for such excessive modesty. I beg you to go in now and examine my daughter-in-law, relying on your brilliant skill to set my mind at ease." Thereupon Jia Rong accompanied him inside. When they reached Jia Rong's quarters and saw Madam Qin, Dr. Zhang said to Jia Rong, "This is your honorable wife?" Jia Rong said, "Indeed. Please sit down, sir, and let me first tell you about my humble wife's illness before you take her pulse." The doctor said, "In my humble opinion, it would be better to take the pulse first before speaking. This is my first visit to your honorable mansion, and I really know nothing about it. But Brother Feng insisted that I come and have a look, so I had no choice but to come. Now that I have felt the pulse, we shall see whether what I say is correct, and then we can discuss the course of her illness over the past few days. Together we can deliberate on a prescription—whether it is suitable or not—and then you, sir, can make the final decision." Jia Rong said, "You are truly brilliant, sir, and I only regret that we did not meet sooner. Please examine her pulse and tell us whether her condition can be cured or not, so that my father and mother may set their minds at ease." Thereupon the maidservants brought over a large pillow. They pulled back Madam Qin's sleeve to expose her pulse, and the doctor placed his fingers on her right wrist. He regulated his breathing and counted the beats, concentrating his mind and examining carefully for about half a quarter of an hour. Then he switched to her left wrist and did the same. Having finished taking the pulse, he said, "Let us go sit outside."

Jia Rong then accompanied the doctor to the outer room and invited him to sit on the bed, while a servant woman brought tea. Jia Rong said, "Please have some tea, sir." After accompanying the doctor in drinking tea, he asked, "Doctor, judging from the pulse, can this condition be cured or not?" The doctor said: "Judging from your honorable wife's pulse: the left inch is deep and rapid, the left bar is deep and hidden, the right inch is thin and weak, and the right bar is empty and lacks spirit. The deep and rapid left inch indicates that the vital force of the Heart is deficient and generating fire. The deep and hidden left bar indicates that the Liver's vital force is stagnant and the blood is deficient. The thin and weak right inch indicates that the vital force of the Lung channel is greatly deficient. The empty and spiritless right bar indicates that the Spleen-Earth is being restrained by the Liver-Wood. When the Heart's vital force is deficient and generating fire, it should manifest as irregular menstruation and insomnia at night. When the Liver's blood is deficient and its vital force stagnant, there will inevitably be pain and swelling beneath the ribs, delayed menstruation, and a sensation of heat in the chest. When the Lung channel's vital force is greatly deficient, there will be occasional dizziness of the head and eyes, and spontaneous sweating between the hours of three and five in the morning, as if sitting in a boat. When the Spleen-Earth is restrained by the Liver-Wood, there will inevitably be loss of appetite, mental fatigue, and aching weakness in the limbs. In my view, judging from this pulse, there should be these symptoms. If anyone takes this pulse for a pregnancy pulse, your humble servant would not presume to agree with that teaching." A maidservant who attended Madam Qin closely remarked: "Isn't that exactly so? What the doctor says is truly like divine insight—there was no need for us to tell him. At present there are several grand physicians in our household attending her, but none of them has spoken so accurately. One says it is pregnancy, another says it is illness, this one says it is nothing serious, and that one says to be afraid of the winter solstice. There is simply no definite word from any of them. We beg you, sir, to give us a clear indication."

The doctor smiled and said: "The symptoms of the First Lady were, I fear, neglected by all those gentlemen. If treatment had been begun on the date of her very first menstruation, not only would there be no trouble today, but she would have already fully recovered by now. Since the illness has been neglected to this extent, it is also a calamity that was destined to happen. In my view, this illness still has a three-in-ten chance of being cured. After taking my medicine, if she is able to sleep at night, then I will have added another two parts of confidence. Judging from the pulse: the First Lady is a woman of exceptionally high spirit and unsurpassed intelligence. But when intelligence is too great, there will often be things that do not go as one wishes. When things often do not go as one wishes, then thought and worry become excessive. This illness is caused by anxiety injuring the Spleen, while the Liver-Wood is too powerful. That is why the menstrual blood does not arrive on schedule. If one asks about her previous menstrual cycles, I am certain they were never shortened but were always prolonged. Am I right?" The maidservant answered: "Exactly so. They were never shortened. Sometimes they were two or three days longer, and even as much as ten days longer." The doctor, having heard this, said: "Splendid! This is the root of the illness. If in the past she had been given medicine to nourish the heart and regulate menstruation, how could things have come to this? Now it clearly presents a pattern of Water deficiency and Wood excess. Let us wait and see after administering medicine." Thereupon he wrote out a prescription and handed it to Jia Rong. On it was written:

**Decoction for Benefiting Vital Force, Nourishing Nutritive Qi, Supplementing the Spleen, and Harmonizing the Liver**

Ginseng, 2 qian; Atractylodes, 2 qian; Poria (baked in earth), 3 qian; Prepared Rehmannia, 4 qian; Angelica Sinensis, 2 qian; White Peony Root (washed in wine), 2 qian; Ligusticum Wallichii (stir-fried), 1.5 qian; Scutellaria, 3 qian; Cyperus, 2 qian; Bupleurum (prepared with vinegar), 0.8 qian; Chinese Yam (stir-fried), 2 qian; Ass-hide Gelatin (stir-fried with clam powder), 2 qian; Corydalis (stir-fried in wine), 1.5 qian; Licorice (prepared, stir-fried in wine), 0.8 qian. To be decocted with 7 lotus seeds (cores removed) and 2 red dates as guides.

Jia Rong, having read it, said: "This is most excellent. May I ask, Doctor, whether this illness will ultimately prove fatal or not?"

The doctor smiled. "Your Lordship is a man of superior understanding. When a person's illness has reached this stage, it is not the work of a single day or a single night. Even after taking this medicine, it all depends on the karma between patient and physician. In my humble opinion, she should be safe through this winter. Once the spring equinox has passed, we may hope for a complete recovery."

Jia Rong was a clever man himself, and he pressed the matter no further.

After the doctor had departed, escorted by Jia Rong, Jia Rong presented both the prescription and the case notes to Jia Zhen, and reported everything the doctor had said to Jia Zhen and Madam You.

Madam You said to Jia Zhen, "I have never known a doctor to speak so plainly and confidently. The medicine he prescribes must be good indeed."

Jia Zhen replied, "He is not one of those old hands who make a living by doctoring. He came only because Feng Ziyi is a good friend of ours, and we had to beg him hard before he would agree. With a man like this, our daughter-in-law's illness may yet be cured. There is ginseng in his prescription. Use that good catty we bought the other day."

When Jia Rong had heard these instructions, he went out and ordered the medicine to be prepared and decocted for Qin-shi to take.

What effect this medicine had on Qin-shi's illness will be told in the next chapter.

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