Chapter 72

Chapter 72

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Chapter 72: Wang Xifeng, Relying on Her Power, Is Ashamed to Speak of Her Illness; Lai Wang's Wife, Depending on Her Influence, Tyrannizes Others into a Match

Now let us return to Yuanyang. When she left the corner gate, her face was still flushed and her heart was pounding—truly this had been an unexpected event. She thought to herself that this matter was most serious. If it were to be revealed, it would involve both treachery and theft, and human lives would be at stake; she might not be able to avoid implicating others as well. In any case, it had nothing to do with her. She decided to keep it locked in her heart and not tell a single soul. She returned to her room and reported back to the Lady Dowage on her errand, and everyone settled down for the night. From then on, she seldom went into the garden in the evenings. Since she now knew that such strange things existed in the garden, how much more might be happening elsewhere? For this reason, she also became reluctant to move about freely to other places.

It turned out that Siqi had grown up playing with her cousin from the time they were children, and in their childish games they had pledged that neither would ever marry anyone else. Now that they had grown up, both had become handsome and refined in appearance. Whenever Siqi went home, the two exchanged lingering glances and had never forgotten their old feelings, though they had never been able to consummate their relationship. Both feared their parents would not consent, so they had arranged to bribe the old women servants both inside and outside the Garden to leave doors unguarded and keep watch along the paths. That day, taking advantage of the confusion, they had finally managed their first tryst. Though they had not fully joined together, they had already exchanged oaths of eternal devotion, given each other tokens in secret, and shared boundless intimacies. Suddenly startled away by Yuanyang, the young man had already slipped away through the flowers and willows and out the corner gate. Siqi had not slept the whole night through, and then regretted it again. The next day, when she saw Yuanyang, her face flushed red and then turned pale by turns, and she felt utterly mortified. Harboring a secret dread, she had no appetite for tea or food and sat and stood in a dazed confusion. Two days passed, and when she heard no repercussions at all, she began only then to set her mind somewhat at ease. That evening, suddenly an old woman came and quietly told her, "Your brother has actually run away. He hasn't been home for three or four days. Now they're sending people everywhere to look for him." When Siqi heard this, she was so angry she nearly fell backward, and thought to himself: "Even if it all came out, we should have died together. He thinks himself a man and ran off first—clearly he has no real feeling." So she added yet another layer of resentment. The next day she felt ill at ease within and could not hold herself up in any way; she collapsed onto her bed and languished into a grave illness. Yuanyang, hearing that a young servant had vanished from that side for no apparent reason, and that Siqi in the Garden was gravely ill and was to be moved outside, concluded in her heart that it was because the two of them feared punishment—"She's terrified I'll speak of it, and that's what's frightened her to such a state." Thereupon she herself felt conscience-stricken. She went to visit Siqi, sent everyone else out, and standing there herself, raised her oath and said to Siqi, "If I tell a single person, may I die on the spot and face immediate retribution! You just set your mind at ease and recover your health—don't throw your life away for nothing." Siqi seized her hand and wept, "My dear sister, we've been close since childhood, and you've never treated me as an outsider, and I've never dared treat you with the slightest disrespect. Now though I've made one wrong move, if you truly don't tell a single person, you'll be like my own mother to me. From now on, every day I live is a day you've given me. After I recover, I'll set up a long-life tablet for you, and every day I'll burn incense and bow before it, praying to bless you with fortune and long life all your days. If I die, I'll come back as a donkey or a dog to repay you. Besides, as the saying goes, 'Even a pavilion built a thousand miles long must someday be dismantled—there is no feast that never ends.' In another two or three years, we'll all be leaving this place anyway. There's another saying too: 'Even drifting duckweed may meet again—are people truly never to see each other again?' If someday we meet, how shall I ever repay your kindness?" Even as she spoke, she wept. This speech moved Yuanyang to the heart, and she too began to cry. She nodded and said, "That's exactly right. I'm not one of the managers anyway—why should I go out of my way to ruin your reputation, offering my services for nothing? Besides, I myself find it awkward to speak of this to anyone. You just rest easy. Once you've recovered, you must behave yourself and never act recklessly again." Siqi on her pillow nodded without cease. Yuanyang comforted her further and then went out. Knowing that Jia Lian was not at home, and having noticed these past two days that Fengjie seemed listless and lacking her usual energy, she stopped by on her way to visit her. When she entered the gate of Fengjie's courtyard, the servants at the second gate saw her come and stood up to let her pass through. Yuanyang had just reached the main room when she saw Ping'er come out from the inner chamber. Seeing her arrive, Ping'er hurried up and said with a quiet smile, "She's just had a bite of food and is taking her nap. Sit here for a bit." Yuanyang had no choice but to go with Ping'er to the room on the east side. A little maid poured tea. Yuanyang quietly asked, "How is your mistress these past two days? I noticed she seemed listless." Ping'er, seeing her ask, and there being no one else in the room, sighed and said, "This listlessness isn't just these past two days—it's been like this ever since a month ago. And then with all the chaos of the last few days, plus some petty vexations, it's been stirred up all over again. These past two days it's gotten worse than before, so she can't hold herself together anymore, and it's showing at last." Yuanyang said quickly, "If that's the case, why not call a doctor earlier for treatment?" Pingér sighed, "My sister, you don't know her temperament yet. Don't even mention calling a doctor for medicine. I couldn't bear it and casually asked how she was feeling, and she flew into a rage, accusing me of cursing her with illness. Even so, every day she still goes around prying and investigating, and for her own part she simply won't see reason and take care of herself." Yuanyang said, "Even so, she ought to have a doctor in to see what the disease is, so everyone can set their minds at ease." Ping'er said, "My sister, speaking of this illness, in my view it's no minor ailment." Yuanyang said quickly, "What illness is it?" Ping'er, seeing her ask, leaned even closer and whispered in her ear, "Ever since her monthly courses last month, for a whole month the bleeding has kept dripping and trickling without stopping. Is that a serious illness or not?" Yuanyang, hearing this, quickly replied, "Oh my! From what you're saying, hasn't it become a blood avalanche?" Ping'er quickly spat and said with a quiet smile, "You're a young girl—how can you talk like that? You're cursing someone." Yuanyang, hearing this, couldn't help blushing and said with a quiet smile, "Actually, I don't even know what an 'avalanche' is or isn't—have you forgotten? My older sister died of that very illness. I didn't know what the disease was either—I happened to overhear my mother and her in-laws talking about it, and I was puzzled. Later I also heard my mother explain it in detail..."

"After hearing the explanation, I only understood one or two parts of it," said Ping'er with a laugh. "You ought to know about it—I completely forgot myself."

The two were talking when a little maid came in and said to Ping'er, "Mrs. Zhu has been here again. We told her that you were having your afternoon nap, madam, and she went off to see the Lady Dowager." Ping'er nodded. Yuanyang asked, "Who is Mrs. Zhu?" Ping'er replied, "She's the matchmaker, Mrs. Zhu by name. Because the Sun family has been asking for a match with us, she's been pestering us these last two days with her proposals." Before she could finish, a young maid ran in to announce, "The Second Master is here." Even as she spoke, Jia Lian had already reached the front room and was calling for Ping'er. Ping'er had just gone out to meet him when he came into this room. At the door he caught sight of Yuanyang sitting on the kang. Checking his step, he said with a smile, "Sister Yuanyang, what a rare honor to have you visit our humble quarters!" Yuanyang remained seated and smiled. "I've come to pay my respects to the master and mistress, but one is out and the other is having her nap." Jia Lian said with a laugh, "You work so hard all year round waiting on the Old Lady. I ought to have called on you long ago, but I haven't dared to trouble you. As luck would have it, I was just about to look you up. I came here first to change this padded gown for a lighter one, because it's too hot. Heaven must have taken pity on me and spared me the trip, since you're here waiting for me." As he spoke, he sat down on a chair. Yuanyang asked, "What can I do for you?" Jia Lian smiled before answering. "There's something I forgot about, though you may remember it. Last year, on the Old Lady's birthday, a monk from somewhere presented her with a crystal Buddha's hand made of wax. She liked it so much that she had it put on display at once. The other day, when I was checking the account of antiques for the Old Lady's birthday, I noticed this item listed, but I didn't know where the object itself was now. The people in the antiques storeroom have been waiting for my answer twice, so I wanted to check before entering it in the books. So I'm asking you, Sister, is it still on display in the Old Lady's rooms, or has it been handed over to someone else?" Yuanyang replied, "After the Old Lady had it for a few days she got tired of it and gave it to your wife. Now you're asking me about it! I even remember the date—I was the one who sent it over with Old Lady Wang. You've forgotten, or you should ask your wife or Ping'er." Ping'er, who was fetching clothes, came out quickly when she heard this. "It was handed over and is now stored upstairs. The mistress has already sent someone to say it was to be given to this household. They must be out of their minds—they didn't enter it in the books and now they're making all this fuss about a trifle." Jia Lian laughed. "Since it was given to your mistress, how is it that I didn't know about it? You've kept it for yourselves." Ping'er retorted, "When the mistress told you, Second Master, you wanted to give it away. She was reluctant and only just managed to keep it. Now you've forgotten and accuse us of keeping it for ourselves! What great treasure is it? What rare object? We've never kept things ten times as valuable—and now you fall in love with this worthless thing!" Jia Lian hung his head, thought for a moment with a smile, then clapped his hands. "I must be going senile! So forgetful and muddle-headed that I'm causing complaints. I'm really not what I used to be." Yuanyang said with a laugh, "It's not surprising. You have so many things to deal with and so many people to contend with, and when you've had a couple of cups of wine you're even more confused." As she spoke, she rose to leave. Jia Lian hastily stood up too. "Good sister, stay a little longer. There's something I want to ask you." Then he scolded the little maid, "Why haven't you brewed some good tea? Quick, bring a clean covered bowl and brew some of the new tea that arrived yesterday." He turned to Yuanyang. "Because of the Old Lady's birthday celebrations, all several thousand taels of silver we had have been spent. The rents from several properties and land taxes won't come in until September, and we can't make ends meet. Tomorrow we have to send a gift to the Prince of Nan'an's residence, and we also have to prepare a gift for the Imperial Consort for the Double Ninth Festival. Besides, there are several weddings and funerals requiring gifts—at least three or four thousand taels will be needed, and we can't raise it at short notice. As the saying goes, 'It's better to rely on yourself than on others.' I'm afraid I must ask you to take the risk of secretly bringing out a box of the Old Lady's gold and silver valuables that she hasn't missed, and pawning it for a thousand or so taels to tide us over. In less than half a year, when the silver comes in, I'll redeem it and return it. I'll never let you suffer for this." Yuanyang laughed when she heard this. "What a trick you've thought up! However did you come up with that?" Jia Lian said with a smile, "I'm not lying. Except for you, there are others who could manage a thousand taels or so, but they're not as sensible and bold as you are. If I mentioned it to them, I'd only frighten them away. So as they say, 'Better to strike one golden bell than beat three thousand drums.'" Before he finished, a young maid from the Old Lady's quarters came hurrying in to look for Yuanyang. "The Old Lady has been looking for you for half the day. We couldn't find you anywhere, but you're here!" Yuanyang immediately went off to see the Old Lady. Jia Lian had no choice but to go back to look for Fengjie. He found that Fengjie had woken up and, having heard him borrowing from Yuanyang, had not considered it her place to respond and had simply lain on the couch. When Yuanyang left and Jia Lian came in, Fengjie asked, "Did she agree?" Jia Lian said with a smile, "She hasn't agreed yet, but there's a good chance. If you talk to her again tonight, it'll be a done deal." Fengjie said with a laugh, "I'm not dealing with this. Even if she agrees, you'll talk nicely now, but when the money comes, you'll forget all about it and who's going to hound you for it? And if the Old Lady finds out—"

"I've lost all the face I've built up over these years," he said.

Jia Lian laughed. "Good girl, if you settle this, how about I thank you?"

Xifeng laughed. "Tell me, what would you give me?"

Jia Lian laughed. "I'll give you whatever you want."

Ping'er, standing nearby, laughed. "Madam doesn't need any thanks. Just yesterday she was saying she wanted to do something but was short a hundred or two taels of silver. Better to borrow it—if Madam would take a hundred or two taels, wouldn't that suit both sides perfectly?"

Xifeng laughed. "Good thing you reminded me. Very well, let it be so."

Jia Lian laughed. "You really are too ruthless. A thousand taels means nothing to you right now—even if you needed three or five thousand taels in ready silver, I doubt it would stump me. I simply won't borrow from you, that's all. Now I come to you asking for a single word of help, and you want interest on top of it. Truly outrageous."

Xifeng, hearing this, sat bolt upright. "I have three, five thousand—ten thousand, a hundred thousand—none of it earned off you. Inside and out, high and low, plenty of people talk about me behind my back, and the only one who hasn't is you. That just proves the saying: no family insider can keep outside devils from coming in. Where do you think our Wang family got its money? All earned by you Jia folk. Don't make me sick. You look at your household and think of Shi Chong or Deng Tong. Sweep up the cracks between the flagstones of our Wang family estate, and that would be enough to keep you living for a lifetime. The things you say—aren't you ashamed? Here's the proof right in front of us: take a careful look at the Lady's dowry and mine, compare them with yours—which single item fails to match up to yours?"

Jia Lian laughed. "I was only joking and you got angry. What's this about? If you need a hundred or two taels of silver, what does it matter? I don't have much, but there's still some. Take it first, use it, and we'll talk later. How about that?"

Xifeng said, "I'm not in need of money to stuff in my mouth behind my back. What's the rush?"

Jia Lian said, "Why go to such lengths? There's no call for such fury."

Xifeng heard this and burst out laughing again. "It's not that I'm anxious—it's that your words cut to the bone. It occurred to me that the day after tomorrow is the anniversary of Second Sister You's death. We were close once. Though I can't do anything else, at least I could go to her grave and burn some paper for her—for the sake of our sisterhood. Even though she left no son or daughter, still, as the saying goes, 'the dirt thrown by those before us blinds the eyes of those who come after.'"

This remark left Jia Lian with nothing to say. He lowered his head and pondered for a good while before finally speaking. "It's good of you to think of it so thoroughly—I had completely forgotten. Since you don't need it until the day after tomorrow, if I get hold of it tomorrow, you may use however much you like."

Before she had finished speaking, in came Xifeng's maidservant, Wang's wife. "Did you manage it?" Xifeng asked.

"It was no use, madam. I said you would have to decide."

"What's this now?" asked Jia Lian.

"Well, it's nothing very important," Xifeng told him. "Old Wang has a son of seventeen who still hasn't got himself a wife. He's asked for Cai Xia, a girl in your mother's quarters. We don't know what Her Ladyship thinks about it, so nothing has been settled yet. The other day, however, as Cai Xia was getting on in years and also ailing a lot, Her Ladyship gave her permission to leave the household and let her parents choose a husband for her. So Wang's wife came to me. I thought the two families were well-matched and that the match could be arranged without difficulty. But just now she came to tell me it was no use."

"This is such a trifling matter!" said Jia Lian. "There are many girls better than Cai Xia."

"Your Lordship may say so," Wang's wife replied with an ingratiating smile, "but if even they look down on us, others will think even less of us. I took great pains to find a suitable girl for my son, and I thought if Your Lordship and Her Ladyship would bestow your favour on us the match would be made. As Her Ladyship said she was sure they would agree, I went to them to sound them out. But I only met with a rebuff. The young man is a good boy. To my certain knowledge he has no objections. It's just that his parents are too ambitious."

This remark struck home with both Xifeng and Jia Lian. As Jia Lian was there, Xifeng kept quiet and simply watched him.

Jia Lian had other things on his mind and could not be bothered with such a trivial matter. Yet he felt he could not simply ignore the request, for this woman had been Xifeng's personal maid and had worked hard for them in the past. He could not bring himself to refuse her outright.

"Such a trifle!" he said. "Why all this fussing? Don't worry. Tomorrow I'll send two respectable people to propose the match and bring the betrothal gifts. I'll tell them to say this is my idea. If they still refuse, they can come and see me about it."

Wang's wife looked at Xifeng, who pursed her lips. Understanding the hint, the woman kowtowed hastily to Jia Lian to thank him.

"You'd better thank your mistress," he told her hastily. "Although I've given these instructions, we'd still do better to have someone talk to the girl's mother. After all, even though they're bound to agree, we shouldn't be too high-handed about this."

"Even you are so kind as to take the trouble," said Xifeng quickly. "Am I going to stand by with folded arms? Wang's wife, listen. When you've settled this, see to it that you finish your work quickly. Tell your husband to collect all the outstanding debts by the end of this year. If he's short by a single cash I won't let him off. My reputation is already bad. If I go on like this for another year they'll end up eating me alive."

"Don't be so nervous, madam," said Wang's wife with a smile. "Who would dare talk about you? If we call in the debts, to be frank, it will save us trouble and得罪 fewer people."

"You've been labouring under a delusion for nothing!" Xifeng said with a cold laugh. "Do you think I'm waiting for money? It's simply that our expenditure exceeds our income. The fact is, all the money that comes in each month—your master's and mine, plus the allowances for our four maids—amounts to twenty taels of silver at most, and that's not enough for three or five days. If I hadn't scraped and scraped together, goodness knows what slum we'd have ended up in by now. Yet I've earned the reputation of a usurer. Very well then, I'll call in the money. Am I the only one who doesn't know how to spend? In future we'll just sit and spend, and let tomorrow take care of itself. Take this, for example: the other day was the Old Lady's birthday. Your mistress was worried stiff for two months, unable to think of a way out. Then I suggested that we take four or five boxes of old copper and tin things from the back tower—things we didn't need—and pawn them for three hundred taels. That was the only way your mistress managed to scrape together enough to save face. As you know, I sold that gold repeater for five hundred and sixty taels. But before half a month was up there were ten or a dozen more major and minor expenses, and the whole sum was swallowed up. Now even the outside stewards are short of funds, and someone has the nerve to go and ask the Old Lady for money. Wait another year, and they'll be pawning their clothes and jewelry!"

"The jewelry and clothes of any one of the ladies here would last a lifetime if they were pawned," said Wang's wife with a smile. "They just won't do it."

"I'm not saying this because I'm at my wits' end," said Xifeng. "But if things go on like this, I really won't be able to cope. Last night I had the strangest dream. I dreamed of a man who seemed familiar, though I couldn't place him. He came to see me and asked for a hundred bolts of brocade, saying the Imperial Concubine had sent him. When I asked which concubine, he said it wasn't our family's concubine. I refused to give him the brocade, and he tried to snatch it from me. Just as he was snatching it, I woke up."

"That's because you worry so much during the day, madam, and are always waiting on news from the Palace," said Wang's wife with a smile.

Before she had finished speaking, a servant returned and reported, "The Eunuch Xia has sent a young eunuch to speak with you." Jia Lian knit his brows at once. "What is it now? They've already squeezed enough out of us this year." Xifeng said, "You hide yourself. Let me see him. If it's a small matter, well and good; if it's something important, I'll know how to handle it." Jia Lian slipped into the inner chamber. Meanwhile Xifeng ordered the young eunuch to be brought in, seated him on a chair, and served him tea, then asked what his business was. The young eunuch said, "Old Father Xia happened upon a house today. Two hundred taels are short, and he sent me to ask Aunt's household whether you have ready silver to lend, a hundred or two hundred taels. He will send it back within a day or two." Xifeng laughed. "What talk of 'sending it back'? We have plenty of silver on hand. Just take what you need first. If we ever run short, we can borrow from you some other day—it's all the same." The young eunuch said, "Old Father Xia also mentioned that there are still twelve hundred taels from the last two occasions that haven't been sent over. By the end of this year, he will naturally send them all together." Xifeng laughed. "Your Old Father Xia is so petty—is this even worth bringing up? Let me say something without fear that he'll take offense: if every penny were tallied and repaid to us, who knows how much he'd owe us by now. I only hope there isn't enough; if there is, take it all." She then called for Wang Er's wife. "Go out and draw two hundred taels from wherever you can." Wang Er's wife understood and said with a smile, "I only came to ask you, Madam, because I couldn't draw from any other place." Xifeng said, "You lot only know how to come inside asking for money—ask you to manage things outside and you're helpless." She then called to P'ing-er, "Take out my two gold necklaces and pawn them for the time being for four hundred taels." P'ing-er assented and went off for a while, returning indeed with a brocade box containing two brocade-wrapped parcels. When opened, one was a gold filigree necklace strung with pearls, each pearl the size of a lotus seed; the other was inlaid with kingfisher feathers and precious stones. Both were scarcely inferior to things from the palace. They were taken out at once, and sure enough, four hundred taels were obtained. Xifeng ordered half to be packed up for the young eunuch and the other half given to Wang Er's wife, directing her to use it for the preparations for the Mid-Autumn Festival in the eighth month. The young eunuch then took his leave, and Xifeng had someone carry the silver for him and see him out the main gate. Jia Lian emerged from the inner room and laughed. "When will these outside demons ever end!" Xifeng laughed. "No sooner said than done—here comes another one." Jia Lian said, "Yesterday the eunuch Zhou came asking for a thousand taels right off the bat. I hesitated just a moment and he took offense. There's no telling how many people we'll end up offending. If only we could make another three or two million in fortune right now!" As he spoke, P'ing-er attended Xifeng as she washed her face again and changed her clothes, then they set off to wait on the Dowager at the evening meal.

Jia Lian came out and had just reached the outer study when he saw Lin Zhixiao approaching. Jia Lian asked what the matter was. Lin Zhixiao said, "I've just heard that Yu Cun has been demoted, but I don't know for what reason. It may not be true." Jia Lian said, "True or not, that official post of his probably wasn't secure for long. If trouble comes in the future, he may well implicate us. Better to keep our distance from him." Lin Zhixiao said, "That's certainly true, but it's hard to distance ourselves all at once. These days the Master of the East Mansion is even closer to him, and the Old Lord is fond of him too. He comes and goes all the time—everyone knows it." Jia Lian said, "In any case, as long as we don't involve him in our affairs, it doesn't concern us. Go and find out whether it's really true, and why." Lin Zhixiao assented, but instead of leaving he sat down in a chair below and made some small talk. He then brought up how hard things had become for the family, and seized the opportunity to say, "There are too many people. We should pick a day to report to the Old Lady and the Old Lord and ask them to show kindness and let go a few of the old family servants who are no longer needed. For one thing, they could each set up their own livelihood, and for another, the household would save on provisions and monthly allowances for a year. Besides, there are too many girls inside as well. As the saying says, 'one time is not like another.' We can no longer follow the old standards, and everyone will have to make some sacrifices—where eight were used, use six; where four were used, use two. If you count up each household, it would save a great deal in monthly rice and allowances over a year. What's more, half the young women inside are grown up and should be given in marriage. Once they're married, won't they breed more people?" Jia Lian said, "I've had the same thought, but the Old Lord has only just returned home. There are so many important matters he hasn't yet reported on—how could we bring up this subject? The other day the official matchmaker brought a marriage card seeking a match, but the Lady said that the Old Lord had only just come home and was so happy every day, rejoicing that the family was reunited. Bringing up this matter might sadden him again, so she told us not to mention it." Lin Zhixiao said, "That's only right. The Lady is thoughtful." Jia Lian said, "Exactly. Speaking of this, it reminds me of something. Our Wang'er's son wants to marry Cai Xia from the Lady's quarters. He asked me yesterday, and I thought it wasn't a big matter—anyone could just say a word. Who's free right now? I'll send someone to say a word—just say it's my instruction." Lin Zhixiao listened and had to agree, but after a moment he smiled and said, "In my opinion, Second Master, you'd better not meddle in this matter. Wang'er's little son, though young, drinks and gambles and does everything under the sun outside. Even though they're all servants, after all it's a matter of a lifetime. That Cai Xia—I haven't seen her these years, but I hear she's grown into an outstanding girl. Why go and ruin a person for nothing?" Jia Lian said, "Is his young son really a drunkard and no good?" Lin Zhixiao said with a cold smile, "It's not just drinking and gambling—he does everything outside. We only see half and not the other half because he belongs to the Young Lady's people." Jia Lian said, "I really didn't know about these things. In that case, why give him a wife at all? Give him a beating with the rod, lock him up, and then question his parents." Lin Zhixiao said with a smile, "No need to do it right now. If he causes trouble again, we'll naturally report him to you for punishment. For now, let him off." Jia Lian said nothing more, and after a while Lin Zhixiao left.

That evening, Feng Jie had already sent for Cai Xia's mother to come and propose the match. Though Cai Xia's mother was inwardly unwilling, when Feng Jie spoke to her personally, it was such an honor that she gave her consent unhesitatingly. Now Feng Jie asked Jia Lian whether he had spoken about it. Jia Lian said, "I was going to speak, but I heard his young son is thoroughly worthless, so I haven't said anything yet. If he really is no good, we should discipline him for a couple of days before giving him a wife." Feng Jie said, "Who told you he's worthless?" Jia Lian said, "Just people in the household—who else?" Feng Jie said with a smile, "Even people from our Wang family, myself included, don't meet your standards, let alone a servant. I've already spoken to his mother, and she's joyfully agreed. Are we supposed to call him in and refuse him now?" Jia Lian said, "Since you've already spoken, there's no need to back out. Just tell his father to keep him under control." So much for their conversation.

Let us return to Caixia. Having gone out the previous day to await her parents' choice of a match for her, she had long harbored feelings for Jia Huan, though nothing had been settled. Now she learned that Wang'er had come again and again to press his suit for his son, and she had already heard that Wang'er's son was a drunkard and a gambler, ugly in appearance, and utterly without any skill or accomplishment. Her heart grew more vexed and resentful by the day. She feared that Wang'er, relying upon Sister Feng's power, might force the match through, dooming her to a lifetime of misery. Her mind grew restless and agitated. That evening she secretly sent her younger sister, Xiaoxia, through the second gate to find Concubine Zhao and ascertain the truth of the matter.

Concubine Zhao had always been on especially close terms with Caixia. She had long wished to have her given to Jia Huan, for she would then have an ally. She had not expected Lady Wang to have let her out of the household. She had often urged Jia Huan to ask for her, but in the first place Jia Huan was too ashamed to bring it up, and in the second place he did not care greatly—after all, she was only a maid, and once she was gone, there would naturally be others in time. So the matter had been put off and set aside, his mind quite made up to let it go. But Concubine Zhao could not bear to give her up, and when Xiaoxia came to make inquiries, she seized the opportunity that evening to approach Jia Zheng first.

Jia Zheng said, "Why the hurry? Let them study another year or two before we send anyone away. I have already selected two maids in my mind—one for Baoyu and one for Huan'er. They are still young, however, and I fear we might interfere with their studies, so I shall wait another year or two."

Concubine Zhao said, "Baoyu has already had his for two years. Does Your Lordship not know?"

Upon hearing this, Jia Zheng quickly asked, "Who gave her to him?"

Just as Concubine Zhao was about to reply, a loud crash was heard outside—something had fallen or shattered—and everyone was thrown into a considerable fright. To learn what happened, please listen to the next chapter.

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