CHAPTER XLVII.
An idiotic bully tries to be lewd and comes in for a sound thrashing. A cold-hearted fellow is prompted by a dread of trouble to betake himself to a strange place.
As soon as Madame Wang, so runs our narrative, heard of Madame Hsing'sarrival, she quickly went out to welcome her. Madame Hsing was not yetaware that dowager lady Chia had learnt everything connected with YueanYang's affair, and she was coming again to see which way the wind blew.The moment, however, she stepped inside the courtyard-entrance, severalmatrons promptly explained to her, quite confidentially, that their oldmistress had been told all only a few minutes back, and she meant toretrace her steps, (but she saw that) every inmate in the suite of roomswas already conscious of her presence. When she caught sight, besides,of Madame Wang walking out to meet her she had no option but to enter.First and foremost, she paid her respects to dowager lady Chia, but oldlady Chia did not address her a single remark, so she felt withinherself smitten with shame and remorse.
Lady Feng soon gave something or other as an excuse and withdrew. YueanYang then returned also quite alone to her chamber to give vent to herresentment; and Mrs. Hsueeh, Madame Wang and the other inmates, one byone, retired in like manner, for fear of putting Madame Hsing out ofcountenance. Madame Hsing, however, could not muster courage to beat aretreat. Dowager lady Chia noticed that there was no one but themselvesin her apartments. "I hear," she remarked, "that you had come to playthe part of a go-between for your lord and master! You can very wellobserve the three obediences and four virtues, but this softness ofyours is a work of supererogation! You people have also got now a wholelot of grandchildren and sons. Do you still live in fear and tremblinglest he should put his monkey up? Rumour has it that you yet let thatdisposition of your husband's run riot!"
Madame Hsing's whole face got suffused with blushes. "I advised him timeand again," she explained, "but he wouldn't listen to me. How is it,venerable senior, that you don't yet know that he turns a deaf ear tome? That's why I had no choice in the matter!"
"Would you go and kill any one," dowager lady Chia asked, "that he mightinstigate you to? But consider now. Your brother's wife is naturally aquiet sort of person, and is born with many ailments; but is thereanything, whether large or small, that she doesn't go to the trouble oflooking after? And notwithstanding that that daughter-in-law of yourslends her a helping hand, she is daily so busy that she 'no sooner putsdown the pick than she has to take up the broom.' So busy, that I havemyself now curtailed a hundred and one things. But whenever there'sanything those two can't manage, there's Yuean Yang to come to theirassistance. She is, it's true, a mere child, but nevertheless verycareful; and knows how to concern herself about my affairs a bit;indenting for anything that need be indented, and availing herself of anopportunity to tell them to supply every requisite. Were Yuean Yang notthe kind of girl she is, how could those two ladies not neglect a wholeor part of those matters, both important as well as unimportant,connected with the inner and outer quarters? Would I not at present haveto worry my own mind, instead of leaving things to others? Why, I'ddaily have to rack my brain and go and ask them to give me whatever Imight need! Of those girls, who've come to my quarters and those who'vegone, there only remains this single one. She's, besides other respects,somewhat older in years, and has as well a slight conception of my waysof doing things, and of my tastes. In the second place, she has managedto win her mistresses' hearts, for she never tries to extort aught fromme, or to dun this lady for clothes or that one for money. Hence it isthat beginning from your sister-in-law and daughter-in-law down to theservants in the house, irrespective of old or young, there isn't a soul,who doesn't readily believe every single word she says in anything, nomatter what it is! Not only do I thus have some one upon whom I canrely, but your young sister-in-law and your daughter-in-law are both aswell spared much trouble. With a person such as this by me, should evenmy daughter-in-law and granddaughter-in-law not have the time to thinkof anything, I am not left without it; nor am I given occasion to get mytemper ruffled. But were she now to go, what kind of creature would theyhunt up again to press into my service? Were you even to bring me aperson made of real pearls, she'd be of no use; if she doesn't know howto speak! I was just about to send some one to go and explain to yourhusband that 'I've got money in here enough to buy any girl he fancies,'and to tell him that 'he's at liberty to give for her purchase fromeight to ten thousand taels; that, if he has set his heart upon thisgirl, he can't however have her; and that by leaving her behind toattend to me, during the few years to come, it will be just the same asif he tried to acquit himself of his filial duties by waiting upon meday and night,' so you come at a very opportune moment. Were youtherefore to go yourself at once and deliver him my message, it willanswer the purpose far better!"
These words over, she called the servants. "Go," she said, "and ask Mrs.Hsueeh, and your young mistresses to come! We were in the middle of achat full of zest, and how is it they've all dispersed?"
The waiting-maids immediately assented and left to go in search of theirmistresses, one and all of whom promptly re-entered her apartments, withthe sole exception of Mrs. Hsueeh.
"I've only now returned," she observed to the waiting-maid, "and whatshall I go again for? Just tell her that I'm fast asleep!"
"Dearest Mrs. Hsueeh!" the waiting-maid pleaded, "my worthy senior! ourold mistress will get angry. If you, venerable lady, don't appearnothing will appease her; so do it for the love of us! Should you objectto walking, why I'm quite ready to carry you on my back."
"You little imp!" Mrs. Hsueeh laughed. "What are you afraid of? Allshe'll do will be to scold you a little; and it will all be over soon!"
While replying, she felt that she had no course but to retrace herfootsteps, in company with the waiting-maid.
Dowager lady Chia at once motioned her into a seat. "Let's have a gameof cards!" she then smilingly proposed. "You, Mrs. Hsueeh, are not a goodhand at them; so let's sit together, and see that lady Feng doesn'tcheat us!"
"Quite so," laughed Mrs. Hsueeh. "But it will be well if your venerableladyship would look over my hand a bit! Are we four ladies to play, orare we to add one or two more persons to our number?"
"Naturally only four!" Madame Wang smiled.
"Were one more player let in," lady Feng interposed, "it would bemerrier!"
"Call Yuean Yang here," old lady Chia suggested, "and make her take thislower seat; for as Mrs. Hsueeh's eyesight is rather dim, we'll charge herto look over our two hands a bit."
"You girls know how to read and write," lady Feng remarked with a smile,addressing herself to T'an Ch'un, "and why don't you learnfortune-telling?"
"This is again strange!" T'an Ch'un exclaimed. "Instead of bracing upyour energies now to rook some money out of our venerable senior, youturn your thoughts to fortune-telling!"
"I was just wishing to consult the fates," lady Feng proceeded, "as tohow much I shall lose to-day. Can I ever dream of winning? Why, lookhere. We haven't commenced playing, and they have placed themselves inambush on the left and right."
This remark amused dowager lady Chia and Mrs. Hsueeh. But presently YueanYang arrived, and seated herself below her old mistress. After Yuean Yangsat lady Feng. The red cloth was then spread; the cards were shuffled;the dealer was decided upon and the quintet began to play. After thegame had gone on for a time, Yuean Yang noticed that dowager lady Chiahad a full hand and was only waiting for one two-spotted card, and shemade a secret sign to lady Feng. Lady Feng was about to lead, butpurposely lingered for a few moments. "This card will, for a certainty,be snatched by Mrs. Hsueeh," she smiled, "yet if I don't play this one, Iwon't be able later to come out with what I want."
"I haven't got any cards you want in my hand," Mrs. Hsueeh remarked.
"I mean to see by and bye," lady Feng resumed.
"You're at liberty to see," Mrs. Hsueeh said. "But go on, play now! Letme look what card it is."
Lady Feng threw the card in front of Mrs. H
sueeh. At a glance, Mrs. Hsueehperceived that it was the two spot. "I don't fancy this card," shesmiled. "What I fear is that our dear senior will get a full hand."
"I've played wrong!" lady Feng laughingly exclaimed at these words.
Dowager lady Chia laughed, and throwing down her cards, "If you dare,"she shouted, "take it back! Who told you to play the wrong card?"
"Didn't I want to have my fortune told?" lady Feng observed. "I playedthis card of my own accord, so there's no one with whom I can findfault."
"You should then beat your own lips and punish your own self; it's onlyfair;" old lady Chia remarked. Then facing Mrs. Hsueeh, "I'm not aniggard, fond of winning money," she went on to say, "but it was my goodluck!"
"Don't we too think as much?" Mrs. Hsueeh smiled. "Who's there stupidenough to say that your venerable ladyship's heart is set upon money?"
Lady Feng was busy counting the cash, but catching what was said, sherestrung them without delay. "I've got my share," she said, laughinglyto the company. "It isn't at all that you wish to win. It's your goodluck that made you come out a winner! But as for me, I am really a meancreature; and, as I managed to lose, I count the money and put it awayat once."
Dowager lady Chia usually made Yuean Yang shuffle the cards for her, butbeing engaged in chatting and joking with Mrs. Hsueeh, she did not noticeYuean Yang take them in hand. "Why is it you're so huffed," old lady Chiaasked, "that you don't even shuffle for me?"
"Lady Feng won't let me have the money!" Yuean Yang replied, picking upthe cards.
"If she doesn't give the money," dowager lady Chia observed, "it will bea turning-point in her luck. Take that string of a thousand cash ofhers," she accordingly directed a servant, "and bring it bodily overhere!"
A young waiting-maid actually fetched the string of cash and depositedit by the side of her old mistress.
"Let me have them," lady Feng eagerly cried smiling, "and I'll squareall that's due, and finish."
"In very truth, lady Feng, you're a miserly creature!" Mrs. Hsueehlaughed. "It's simply for mere fun, nothing more!"
Lady Feng, at this insinuation, speedily stood up, and, laying her handon Mrs. Hsueeh, she turned her head round, and pointed at a large woodenbox, in which old lady Chia usually deposited her money. "Aunt," shesaid, a smile curling her lips, "look here! I couldn't tell you how muchthere is in that box that was won from me! This tiao will be wheedled bythe cash in it, before we've played for half an hour! All we've got todo is to give them sufficient time to lure this string in as well; weneedn't trouble to touch the cards. Your temper, worthy ancestor, willthus calm down. If you've also got any legitimate thing for me to do,you might bid me go and attend to it!"
This joke had scarcely been concluded than it evoked incessant laughterfrom dowager lady Chia and every one else. But while she was bandyingwords, P'ing Erh happened to bring her another string of cash promptedby the apprehension that her capital might not suffice to meet herwants.
"It's useless putting them in front of me!" lady Feng cried. "Placethese too over there by our old lady and let them be wheedled in alongwith the others! It will thus save trouble, as there won't be any needto make two jobs of them, to the inconvenience of the cash already inthe box."
Dowager lady Chia had a hearty laugh, so much so, that the cards, sheheld in her hand, flew all over the table; but pushing Yuean Yang. "Bequick," she shouted, "and wrench that mouth of hers!"
P'ing Erh placed the cash according to her mistress' directions. Butafter indulging too in laughter for a time, she retraced her footsteps.On reaching the entrance into the court, she met Chia Lien. "Where'syour Madame Hsing?" he inquired. "Mr. Chia She told me to ask her to goround."
"She's been standing in there with our old mistress," P'ing Erh hastilylaughed, "for ever so long, and yet she isn't inclined to budge! Seizethe earliest opportunity you can get to wash your hands clean of thisbusiness! Our old lady has had a good long fit of fuming and raging.Luckily, our lady Secunda cracked an endless stock of jokes, so she, atlength, got a bit calmer!"
"I'll go over," Chia Lien said. "All I have to do is to find out ourvenerable senior's wishes, as to whether she means to go to Lai Ta'shouse on the fourteenth, so that I might have time to get the chairsready. As I'll be able to tell Madame Hsing to return, and have a shareof the fun, won't it be well for me to go?"
"My idea is," P'ing Erh suggested laughingly, "that you shouldn't putyour foot in there! Every one, even up to Madame Wang, and Pao-yue, havealike received a rap on the knuckles, and are you also going now to fillup the gap?"
"Everything is over long ago," Chia Lien observed, "and can it be thatshe'll cap the whole thing by blowing me up too? What's more, it's noconcern of mine. In the next place, Mr. Chia She enjoined me that I wasto go in person, and ask his wife round, so, if I at present depute someone else, and he comes to know about it, he really won't feel in apleasant mood, and he'll take advantage of this pretext to give vent tohis spite on me."
These words over, he quickly marched off. And P'ing Erh was so impressedwith the reasonableness of his arguments, that she followed in histrack.
As soon as Chia Lien reached the reception hall, he trod with a lightstep. Then peeping in he saw Madame Hsing standing inside. Lady Feng,with her eagle eye, was the first to espy him. But she winked at him anddissuaded him from coming in, and next gave a wink to Madame Hsing.Madame Hsing could not conveniently get away at once, and she had topour a cup of tea, and place it in front of dowager lady Chia. But oldlady Chia jerked suddenly round, and took Chia Lien at such adisadvantage that he found it difficult to beat a retreat. "Who isoutside?" exclaimed old lady Chia. "It seemed to me as if someservant-boy had poked his head in."
Lady Feng sprung to her feet without delay. "I also," she interposed,"indistinctly noticed the shadow of some one."
Saying this, she walked away and quitted the room. Chia Lien enteredwith hasty step. Forcing a smile, "I wanted to ask," he remarked,"whether you, venerable senior, are going out on the fourteenth, so thatthe chairs may be got ready."
"In that case," dowager lady Chia rejoined, "why didn't you comestraight in; but behaved again in that mysterious way?"
"I saw that you were playing at cards, dear ancestor," Chia Lienexplained with a strained laugh, "and I didn't venture to come anddisturb you. I therefore simply meant to call my wife out to find outfrom her."
"Is it anything so very urgent that you had to say it this very moment?"old lady Chia continued. "Had you waited until she had gone home,couldn't you have asked her any amount of questions you may have liked?When have you been so full of zeal before? I'm puzzled to know whetherit isn't as an eavesdropping spirit that you appear on the scene; norcan I say whether you don't come as a spy. But that impish way of yoursgave me quite a start! What a low-bred fellow you are! Your wife willplay at cards with me for a good long while more, so you'd better bundleyourself home, and conspire again with Chao Erh's wife how to do awaywith your better half."
Her remarks evoked general merriment.
"It's Pao Erh's wife," Yuean Yang put in laughingly, "and you, worthysenior, have dragged in again Chao Erh's wife."
"Yes!" assented old lady Chia, likewise with a laugh. "How could Iremember whether he wasn't (pao) embracing her, or (pei) carrying her onhis back. The bare mention of these things makes me lose allself-control and provokes me to anger! Ever since I crossed these doorsas a great grandson's wife, I have never, during the whole of thesefifty-four years, seen anything like these affairs, albeit it has beenmy share to go through great frights, great dangers, thousands ofstrange things and hundred and one remarkable occurrences! Don't you yetpack yourself off from my presence?"
Chia Lien could not muster courage to utter a single word to vindicatehimself, but retired out of the room with all promptitude. P'ing Erh wasstanding outside the window. "I gave you due warning in a gentle tone,but you wouldn't hear; you've, after all, rushed into the very meshes ofthe net!"
These reproaches were still being heaped
on him when he caught sight ofMadame Hsing, as she likewise made her appearance outside. "My father,"Chia Lien ventured, "is at the bottom of all this trouble; and the wholeblame now is shoved upon your shoulders as well as mine, mother."
"I'll take you, you unfilial thing and..." Madame Hsing shouted. "Peoplelay down their lives for their fathers; and you are prompted by a fewharmless remarks to murmur against heaven and grumble against earth!Won't you behave in a proper manner? He's in high dudgeon these last fewdays, so mind he doesn't give you a pounding!"
"Mother, cross over at once," Chia Lien urged; "for he told me to comeand ask you to go a long time ago."
Pressing his mother, he escorted her outside as far as the other part ofthe mansion. Madame Hsing gave (her husband) nothing beyond a generaloutline of all that had been recently said; but Chia She found himselfdeprived of the means of furthering his ends. Indeed, so stricken was hewith shame that from that date he pleaded illness. And so little ablewas he to rally sufficient pluck to face old lady Chia, that he merelycommissioned Madame Hsing and Chia Lien to go daily and pay theirrespects to her on his behalf. He had no help too but to despatchservants all over the place to make every possible search and inquiryfor a suitable concubine for him. After a long time they succeeded inpurchasing, for the sum of eighty taels, a girl of seventeen years ofage, Yen Hung by name, whom he introduced as secondary wife into hishousehold.
But enough of this subject. In the rooms on the near side, theyprotracted for a long time their noisy game of cards, and only broke upafter they had something to eat. Nothing worthy of note, however,occurred during the course of the following day or two. In a twinkle,the fourteenth drew near. At an early hour before daybreak, Lai Ta'swife came again into the mansion to invite her guests. Dowager lady Chiawas in buoyant spirits, so taking along Madame Wang, Mrs. Hsueeh, Pao-yueand the various young ladies, she betook herself into Lai Ta's garden,where she sat for a considerable time.
This garden was not, it is true, to be compared with the garden of BroadVista; but it also was most beautifully laid out, and consisted ofspacious grounds. In the way of springs, rockeries, arbours and woods,towers and terraces, pavilions and halls, it likewise contained a goodmany sufficient to excite admiration. In the main hall outside, wereassembled Hsueeh P'an, Chia Chen, Chia Lien, Chia Jung and several closerelatives. But Lai Ta had invited as well a number of officials, stillin active service, and numerous young men of wealthy families, to keepthem company. Among that party figured one Liu Hsiang-lien, whom HsueehP'an had met on a previous occasion and kept ever since in constantremembrance. Having besides discovered that he had a passionate likingfor theatricals, and that the parts he generally filled were those of ayoung man or lady, in fast plays, he had unavoidably misunderstood theobject with which he indulged in these amusements, to such a degree asto misjudge him for a young rake. About this time, he had beenentertaining a wish to cultivate intimate relations with him, but hehad, much to his disgust, found no one to introduce him, so when he, bya strange coincidence, came to be thrown in his way, on the presentoccasion, he revelled in intense delight. But Chia Chen and the otherguests had heard of his reputation, so as soon as wine had blinded theirsense of shame, they entreated him to sing two short plays; and whensubsequently they got up from the banquet, they ensconced themselvesnear him, and, pressing him with questions, they carried on aconversation on one thing and then another.
This Liu Hsiang-lien was, in fact, a young man of an old family; but hehad been unsuccessful in his studies, and had lost his father andmother. He was naturally light-hearted and magnanimous; not particularin minor matters; immoderately fond of spear-exercise and fencing, ofgambling and boozing; even going to such excesses as spending his nightsin houses of easy virtue; playing the fife, thrumming the harp, andgoing in for everything and anything. Being besides young in years, andof handsome appearance, those who did not know what his standing was,invariably mistook him for an actor. But Lai Ta's son had all along beenon such friendly terms with him, that he consequently invited him forthe nonce to help him do the honours.
Of a sudden, while every one was, after the wines had gone round, stillon his good behaviour, Hsueeh P'an alone got another fit of his oldmania. From an early stage, his spirits sunk within him and he wouldfain have seized the first convenient moment to withdraw and consummatehis designs but for Lai Shang-jung, who then said: "Our Mr. Pao-yue toldme again just now that although he saw you, as he walked in, he couldn'tspeak to you with so many people present, so he bade me ask you not togo, when the party breaks up, as he has something more to tell you. Butas you insist upon taking your leave, you'd better wait until I call himout, and when you've seen each other, you can get away; I'll havenothing to say then."
While delivering the message, "Go inside," he directed the servant-boys,"and get hold of some old matron and tell her quietly to invite Mr.Pao-yue to come out."
A servant-lad went on the errand, and scarcely had time enough elapsedto enable one to have a cup of tea in, than Pao-yue, actually, made hisappearance outside.
"My dear sir," Lai Shang-jung smilingly observed to Pao-yue, "I hand himover to you. I'm going to entertain the guests!"
With these words, he was off.
Pao-yue pulled Lia Hsiang-lien into a side study in the hall, where theysat down.
"Have you been recently to Ch'in Ch'ung's grave?" he inquired of him.
"How could I not go?" Hsiang-lien answered. "The other day a few of uswent out to give our falcons a fly; and we were yet at a distance of twoli from his tomb, when remembering the heavy rains, we've had thissummer, I gave way to fears lest his grave may not have been proofagainst them; so evading the notice of the party I went over and had alook. I found it again slightly damaged; but when I got back home, Ispeedily raised a few hundreds of cash, and issued early on the thirdday, and hired two men, who put it right."
"It isn't strange then!" exclaimed Pao-yue, "When the lotus blossomedlast month in the pond of our garden of Broad Vista, I plucked ten ofthem and bade T'sai Ming go out of town and lay them as my offering onhis grave. On his return, I also inquired of him: whether it had beendamaged by the water or not; and he explained that not only had it notsustained any harm, but that it looked better than when last he'd seenit. Several of his friends, I argued, must have had it put in properrepair; and I felt it irksome that I should, day after day, be so cagedat home as to be unable to be my own master in the least thing, and thatif even I move, and any one comes to know of it, this one is sure toexhort me, if that one does not restrain me. I can thus afford to brag,but can't manage to act! And though I've got plenty of money, I'm not atliberty to spend any of it!"
"There's no use your worrying in a matter like this!" Liu Hsiang-liensaid. "I am outside, so all you need do is to inwardly foster the wish;that's all. But as the first of the tenth moon will shortly be upon us,I've already prepared the money necessary for going to the graves. Youknow well enough that I'm as poor as a rat; I've no hoardings at home;and when a few cash find their way into my pocket, I soon remain againquite empty-handed. But I'd better make the best of this opportunity,and keep the amount I have, in order that, when the time comes, I mayn'tfind myself without a cash."
"It's exactly about this that I meant to send Pei Ming to see you,"Pao-yue added. "But it isn't often that one can manage to find you athome. I'm well aware how uncertain your movements are; one day you arehere, and another there; you've got no fixed resort."
"There's no need sending any one to hunt me up!" Liu Hsiang-lienreplied. "All that each of us need do in this matter is to acquitourselves of what's right. But in a little while, I again purpose goingaway on a tour abroad, to return in three to five years' time."
When Pao-yue heard his intention, "Why is this?" he at once inquired.
Liu Hsiang-lien gave a sardonic smile. "When my wish is on a fair way tobe accomplished," he said, "you'll certainly hear everything. I must nowleave you."
"After all the difficulty we've had in meeting," Pao-yue rem
arked,"wouldn't it be better were you and I to go away together in theevening?"
"That worthy cousin of yours," Hsiang-lien rejoined, "is as bad as ever,and were I to stay any longer, trouble would inevitably arise. So it'sas well that I should clear out of his way."
Pao-yue communed with himself for a time. "In that case," he thenobserved, "it's only right, that you should retire. But if you really bebent upon going on a distant tour, you must absolutely tell me somethingbeforehand. Don't, on any account, sneak away quietly!".
As he spoke, the tears trickled down his cheeks.
"I shall, of course, say good-bye to you," Liu Hsiang-lien rejoined."But you must not let any one know anything about it!"
While uttering these words, he stood up to get away. "Go in at once," heurged, "there's no need to see me off!"
Saying this, he quitted the study. As soon as he reached the mainentrance, he came across Hsueeh P'an, bawling out boisterously, "Who letyoung Liu-erh go?"
The moment these shouts fell on Liu Hsiang-lien's ear, his anger flaredup as if it had been sparks spurting wildly about, and he only wished hecould strike him dead with one blow. But on second consideration, hepondered that a fight after the present festive occasion would be aninsult to Lai Shang-jung, and he perforce felt bound to stifle hisindignation.
When Hsueeh P'an suddenly espied him walking out, he looked as delightedas if he had come in for some precious gem. With staggering step he drewnear him. Clutching him with one grip, "My dear brother," he smirked."where are you off to?"
"I'm going somewhere, but will be back soon," Hsiang-lien said by way ofresponse.
"As soon as you left," Hsueeh P'an smiled, "all the fun went. But praysit a while! If you do so, it will be a proof of your regard for me!Don't flurry yourself. With such a senior brother as myself to stand byyou, it will be as easy a job for you to become an official as to reap afortune."
The sight of his repulsive manner filled the heart of Hsiang-lien withdisgust and shame. But speedily devising a plan, he drew him to asecluded spot. "Is your friendship real," he smiled, "or is it only asham?"
This question sent Hsueeh P'an into such raptures that he found itdifficult to check himself from gratifying his longings. But glancing athim with the corner of his eye, "My dear brother," he smiled, "whatmakes you ask me such a thing? If my friendship for you is a sham, may Idie this moment, before your very eyes."
"Well, if that be so," Hsiang-lien proceeded, "it isn't convenient inhere, so sit down and wait a bit. I'll go ahead, but come out of thisyourself by and bye, and follow me to my place, where we can drink thewhole night long. I've also got there two first-rate young fellows whonever go out of doors. But don't bring so much as a single follower withyou, as you'll find, when you get there, plenty of people ready at handto wait on you."
So high did this assignation raise Hsueeh P'an's spirits that herecovered, to a certain extent, from the effects of wine. "Is it reallyso?" he asked.
"How is it," Hsiang-lien laughed, "that when people treat you with asincere heart, you don't, after all, believe them?"
"I'm no fool," eagerly exclaimed Hsueeh P'an, "and how could I notbelieve you? But since this be the case, how am I, who don't even knowthe way, to find your whereabouts if you are to go ahead of me?"
"My place is outside the northern gate." Hsiang-lien explained. "But canyou tear yourself away from your home to spend the night outside thecity walls?"
"As long as you're there," Hsueeh P'an said, "what will I want my homefor?"
"If that be so," Hsiang-lien resumed, "I'll wait for you on the bridgeoutside the northern gate. But let us meanwhile rejoin the banquet andhave some wine. Come along, after you've seen me go; they won't noticeus then."
"Yes!" shouted Hsueeh P'an with alacrity as he acquiesced to theproposal.
The two young fellows thereupon returned to the feast, and drank for atime. Hsueeh Pan, however, could with difficulty endure the suspense. Hekept his gaze intent upon Hsiang-lien; and the more he pondered withinhimself upon what was coming, the more exuberance swelled in his heart.Now he emptied one wine-kettle; now another; and, without waiting forany one to press him, he, of his own accord, gulped down one drink afteranother, with the result that he unconsciously made himself nearly quitetipsy. Hsiang-lien then got up and quitted the room, and perceivingevery one off his guard, he egressed out of the main entrance. "Go homeahead," he directed his page Hsing Nu. "I'm going out of town, but I'llbe back at once."
By the time he had finished giving him these directions, he had alreadymounted his horse, and straightway he proceeded to the bridge beyond thenorthern gate, and waited for Hsueeh P'an. A long while elapsed, however,before he espied Hsueeh P'an in the distance, hurrying along astride of ahigh steed, with gaping mouth, staring eyes, and his head, banging fromside to side like a pedlar's drum. Without intermission, he glancedconfusedly about, sometimes to the left, and sometimes to the right;but, as soon as he got where he had to pass in front of Hsiang-lien'shorse, he kept his gaze fixed far away, and never troubled his mind withthe immediate vicinity.
Hsiang-lien felt amused and angry with him, but forthwith giving hishorse also the rein, he followed in his track, while Hsueeh P'ancontinued to stare ahead.
Little by little the habitations got scantier and scantier, so pullinghis horse round, (Hsueeh P'an) retraced his steps. The moment he turnedback, he unawares caught sight of Hsiang-lien, and his spirits rosewithin him, as if he had got hold of some precious thing of anextraordinary value. "I knew well enough," he eagerly smiled, "that youweren't one to break faith."
"Quick, let's go ahead!" Hsiang-lien smilingly urged. "Mind people mightnotice us and follow us. It won't then be nice!"
While instigating him, he took the lead, and letting his horse have therein, he wended his way onwards, followed closely by Hsueeh P'an. Butwhen Hsiang-lien perceived that the country ahead of them was alreadythinly settled and saw besides a stretch of water covered with a growthof weeds, he speedily dismounted, and tied his horse to a tree. Turningthen round; "Get down!" he said, laughingly, to Hsueeh P'an. "You mustfirst take an oath, so that in the event of your changing your mind inthe future, and telling anything to anyone, the oath might beaccomplished."
"You're quite right!" Hsueeh P'an smiled; and jumping down with alldespatch, he too made his horse fast to a tree, and then crouched on hisknees.
"If I ever in days to come," he exclaimed, "know any change in myfeelings and breathe a word to any living soul, may heaven blast me andearth annihilate me!"
Scarcely had he ended this oath, when a crash fell on his ear, and lo,he felt as if an iron hammer had been brought down to bear upon him frombehind. A black mist shrouded his eyes, golden stars flew wildly aboutbefore his gaze; and losing all control over himself, he sprawled on theground.
Hsiang-lien approached and had a look at him; and, knowing how little hewas accustomed to thrashings, he only exerted but little of hisstrength, and struck him a few blows on the face. But about this time afruit shop happened to open, and Hsueeh P'an strained at first everynerve to rise to his feet, when another slight kick from Hsiang-lientumbled him over again.
"Both parties should really be agreeable," he shouted. "But if you werenot disposed to accept my advances, you should have simply told me in aproper way. And why did you beguile me here to give me a beating?"
So speaking, he went on boisterously to heap invective upon his head.
"I'll take you, you blind fellow, and show you who Mr. Liu is,"Hsiang-lien cried. "You don't appeal to me with solicitous entreaties,but go on abusing me! To kill you would be of no use, so I'll merelygive you a good lesson!"
With these words, he fetched his whip, and administered him, thirty orforty blows from his back down to his shins.
Hsueeh P'an had sobered down considerably from the effects of wine, andfound the stings of pain so intolerable, that little able to restrainhimself, he gave way to groans.
"Do you go on in this way?" Hsiang-lien said, with an ironica
l smile."Why, I thought you were not afraid of beatings."
While uttering this taunt, he seized Hsueeh P'an by the left leg, anddragging him several steps into a miry spot among the reeds, he rolledhim about till he was covered with one mass of mud. "Do you now knowwhat stuff I'm made of?" he proceeded to ask.
Hsueeh P'an made no reply. But simply lay prostrate, and moaned. Thenthrowing away his whip Hsiang-lien gave him with his fist several thumpsall over the body.
Hsueeh P'an began to wriggle violently and vociferate wildly. "Oh, myribs are broken!" he shouted. "I know you're a proper sort of person!It's all because I made the mistake of listening to other people'sgossip!"
"There's no need for you to drag in other people!" Hsiang-lien went on."Just confine yourself to those present!"
"There's nothing up at present!" Hsueeh P'an cried. "From what you say,you're a person full of propriety. So it's I who am at fault."
"You'll have to speak a little milder," Hsiang-lien added, "before I letyou off."
"My dear younger brother," Hsueeh P'an pleaded, with a groan.
Hsiang-lien at this struck him another blow with his fist.
"Ai!" ejaculated Hsueeh P'an. "My dear senior brother!" he exclaimed.
Hsiang-lien then gave him two more whacks, one after the other.
"Ai Yo!" Hsueeh P'an precipitately screamed. "My dear Sir, do spare me,an eyeless beggar; and henceforth I'll look up to you with veneration;I'll fear you!"
"Drink two mouthfuls of that water!" shouted Hsiang-lien.
"That water is really too foul," Hsueeh P'an argued, in reply to thissuggestion, wrinkling his eyebrows the while; "and how could I put anyof it in my mouth?"
Hsiang-lien raised his fist and struck him.
"I'll drink it, I'll drink it!" quickly bawled Hsueeh P'an.
So saying, he felt obliged to lower his head to the very roots of thereeds and drink a mouthful. Before he had had time to swallow it, asound of 'ai' became audible, and up came all the stuff he had put intohis mouth only a few seconds back.
"You filthy thing!" exclaimed Hsiang-lien. "Be quick and finishdrinking; and I'll let you off."
Upon hearing this, Hsueeh P'an bumped his head repeatedly on the ground."Do please," he cried, "lay up a store of meritorious acts for yourselfand let me off! I couldn't take that were I even on the verge of death!"
"This kind of stench will suffocate me!" Hsiang-lien observed, and, withthis remark, he abandoned Hsueeh Pan to his own devices; and, pulling hishorse, he put his foot to the stirrup, and rode away.
Hsueeh Pan, meanwhile, became aware of his departure, and felt at lastrelieved in his mind. Yet his conscience pricked him for he saw that heshould not misjudge people. He then made an effort to raise himself, butthe racking torture he experienced all over his limbs was so sharp thathe could with difficulty bear it.
Chia Chen and the other guests present at the banquet became, as ithappened, suddenly alive to the fact that the two young fellows haddisappeared; but though they extended their search everywhere, they sawnothing of them. Some one insinuated, in an uncertain way, that they hadgone outside the northern gate; but as Hsueeh P'an's pages had ever livedin dread of him, who of them had the audacity to go and hunt him upafter the injunctions, he had given them, that they were not to followhim? But waxing solicitous on his account, Chia Chen subsequently badeChia Jung take a few servant-boys and go and discover some clue of him,or institute inquiries as to his whereabouts. Straightway therefore theyprosecuted their search beyond the northern gate, to a distance of twoli below the bridge, and it was quite by accident that they discernedHsueeh P'an's horse made fast by the side of a pit full of reeds.
"That's a good sign!" they with one voice exclaimed; "for if the horseis there, the master must be there too!"
In a body, they thronged round the horse, when, from among the reeds,they caught the sound of human groans, so hurriedly rushing forward toascertain for themselves, they, at a glance, perceived Hsueeh P'an, hiscostume all in tatters, his countenance and eyes so swollen and bruisedthat it was hard to make out the head and face, and his whole person,inside as well as outside his clothes, rolled like a sow in a heap ofmud.
Chia Jung surmised pretty nearly the truth. Speedily dismounting, hetold the servants to prop him up. "Uncle Hsueeh," he laughed, "you dailygo in for lewd dalliance; but have you to-day come to dissipate in areed-covered pit? The King of the dragons in this pit must have alsofallen in love with your charms, and enticed you to become hisson-in-law that you've come and gored yourself on his horns like this!"
Hsueeh P'an was such a prey to intense shame that he would fain havegrovelled into some fissure in the earth had he been able to detect any.But so little able was he to get on his horse that Chia Jung directed aservant to run to the suburbs and fetch a chair. Ensconced in this,Hsueeh P'an entered town along with the search party.
Chia Jung still insisted upon carrying him to Lai Ta's house to join thefeast, so Hsueeh P'an had to make a hundred and one urgent appeals to himto tell no one, before Chia Jung eventually yielded to his solicitationsand allowed him to have his own way and return home.
Chia Jung betook himself again to Lai Ta's house, and narrated to ChiaChen their recent experiences. When Chia Chen also learnt of theflogging (Hsueeh P'an) had received from Hsiang-lien, he laughed. "It'sonly through scrapes," he cried, "that he'll get all right!"
In the evening, after the party broke up, he came to inquire after him.But Hsueeh P'an, who was lying all alone in his bedroom, nursing himself,refused to see him, on the plea of indisposition.
When dowager lady Chia and the other inmates had returned home, andevery one had retired into their respective apartments, Mrs. Hsueeh andPao-ch'ai observed that Hsiang Ling's eyes were quite swollen fromcrying, and they questioned her as to the reason of her distress. (Onbeing told), they hastily rushed to look up Hsueeh P'an; but, though theysaw his body covered with scars, they could discover no ribs broken, orbones dislocated.
Mrs. Hsueeh fell a prey to anguish and displeasure. At one time, shescolded Hsueeh P'an; at another, she abused Liu Hsiang-lien. Her wish wasto lay the matter before Madame Wang in order that some one should bedespatched to trace Liu Hsiang-lien and bring him back, but Pao-ch'aispeedily dissuaded her. "It's nothing to make a fuss about," sherepresented. "They were simply drinking together; and quarrels after awine bout are ordinary things. And for one who's drunk to get a fewwhacks more or less is nothing uncommon! Besides, there's in our homeneither regard for God nor discipline. Every one knows it. If it'spurely out of love, mother, that you desire to give vent to your spite,it's an easy matter enough. Have a little patience for three or fivedays, until brother is all right and can go out. Mr. Chia Chen and Mr.Chia Lien over there are not people likely to let the affair dropwithout doing anything! They'll, for a certainty, stand a treat, and askthat fellow, and make him apologise and admit his wrong in the presenceof the whole company, so that everything will be properly settled. Butwere you now, ma, to begin making much of this occurrence, and tellingevery one, it would, on the contrary, look as if you had, in yourmotherly partiality and fond love for him, indulged him to stir up a rowand provoke people! He has, on this occasion, had unawares to eat humblepie, but will you, ma, put people to all this trouble and inconvenienceand make use of the prestige enjoyed by your relatives to oppress anordinary person?"
"My dear child," Mrs. Hsueeh rejoined, "after listening to the adviceproffered by her, you've, after all, been able to foresee all thesethings! As for me, that sudden fit of anger quite dazed me!"
"All will thus be square," Pao-ch'ai smiled, "for, as he's neitherafraid of you, mother, nor gives an ear to people's exhortations, butgets wilder and wilder every day that goes by, he may, if he gets two orthree lessons, turn over a new leaf."
While Hsueeh P'an lay on the stovecouch, he reviled Hsiang-lien with allhis might. Next, he instigated the servant-boys to go and demolish hishouse, kill him and bring a charge against him. But Mrs. Hsueeh hinderedthe lads from c
arrying out his purpose, and explained to her son: "thatLiu Hsiang-lien had casually, after drinking, behaved in a disorderlyway, that now that he was over the effects of wine, he was exceedinglyfilled with remorse, and that, prompted by the fear of punishment, hehad effected his escape."
But, reader, if you feel any interest to know what happened when HsueehP'an heard the version his mother gave him, listen to what you will findin the next chapter.