CHAPTER LVI.
The clever T'an Ch'un increases their income and removes long-standing abuses. The worthy Pao-ch'ai preserves intact, by the display of a little intelligence, the great reputation enjoyed by the Chia family.
But let us pick up the clue of our story. P'ing Erh bore lady Fengcompany during her meal; then attending to her, while she rinsed hermouth and washed her hands, she betook herself eventually to T'anCh'un's quarters, where she discovered the courtyard in perfectstillness. Not a soul was about beyond several maids, matrons and closeattendants of the inner rooms, who stood outside the windows on thealert to obey any calls. P'ing Erh stepped into the hall. The twocousins and their sister-in-law were all three engaged in discussingsome domestic affairs. They were talking about the feast, to which theyhad been invited during the new year festivities by Lai Ta's wife, andvarious details in connection with the garden she had in her place. Butas soon as she (P'ing Erh) appeared on the scene, T'an Ch'un desired herto seat herself on her footstool.
"What was exercising my mind," she thereupon observed, "confines itselfto this. I was computing that the head-oil, and rouge and powder, we useduring the course of a month, are also a matter of a couple of taels;and I was thinking that what with the sum of two taels, already allottedus every month, and the extra monthly amount given as well to the maids,allowances are, with the addition again of that of eight taels forschool expenses, we recently spoke about, piled to be sure one uponanother. The thing is, it's true, a mere trifle, and the amount only abagatelle, but it doesn't seem to be quite proper. But how is it thatyour mistress didn't take this into account?"
P'ing Erh smiled. "There's a why and a wherefore," she answered. "Allthe things required by you, young ladies, must absolutely be subject toa fixed rule; for the different compradores have to lay in a stock ofeach every month; and to send them to us by the maids to take charge of;but purely and simply to keep in readiness for you to use. No such thingcould ever be tolerated as that each of us should have to get moneyevery day and try and hunt up some one to go and buy these articles forus! That's how it is that the compradores outside receive a lump sum,and that they send us, month by month, by the female servants thesupplies allotted for the different rooms. As regards the two taelsmonthly allowed you, young ladies, they were not originally intendedthat you should purchase any such articles with, but that you should, ifat any time the ladies in charge of the household affairs happened to beaway from home or to have no leisure, be saved the trouble of having togo in search of the proper persons, in the event of your suddenlyfinding yourselves in need of money. This was done simply because it wasfeared that you would be subjected to inconvenience. But an unprejudicedglance about me now shows me that at least half of our young mistressesin the various quarters invariably purchase these things with readymoney of their own; so I can't help suspecting that, if it isn't aquestion of the compradores shirking their duties, it must be that whatthey buy is all mere rubbish."
T'an Ch'un and Li Wan laughed. "You must have kept a sharp lookout tohave managed to detect these things!" they said. "But as for shirkingthe purchases, they don't actually do so. It's simply that they'rebehind time by a good number of days. Yet when one puts on the screwwith them, they get some articles from somewhere or other, who knowswhere? These are however only a sham; for, in reality, they aren't fitfor use. But as they're now as ever obtained with cash down, a couple oftaels could very well be given to the brothers or sons of some of theother people's nurses to purchase them with. They'll then be good forsomething! Were we however to employ any of the public domestics in theestablishment, the things will be just as bad as ever. I wonder how theydo manage to get such utter rot as they do?"
"The purchases of the compradores may be what they are," P'ing Erhsmiled; "but were anyone else to buy any better articles, thecompradores themselves won't ever forgive them. Besides other things,they'll aver that they harbour evil designs, and that they wish todeprive them of their post. That's how it comes about that the servantswould much rather give offence to you all inside, (by getting inferiorthings), and that they have no desire to hurt the feelings of themanagers outside, (by purchasing anything of superior quality). But ifyou, young ladies, requisition the services of the nurses, these menwon't have the arrogance to make any nonsensical remarks."
"This accounts for the unhappy state my heart is in," T'an Ch'unobserved. "But as we're called upon to squander money right and left,and as the things purchased are half of them uselessly thrown away,wouldn't it, after all, be better for us to eliminate this monthlyallowance to the compradores? This is the first thing. The next I'd liketo ask you is this. When they went, during the new year festivities, toLai Ta's house, you also went with them; and what do think of that smallgarden as compared with this of ours?"
"It isn't half as big as ours," P'ing Erh laughingly explained. "Thetrees and plants are likewise fewer by a good deal."
"When I was having a chat with their daughter," T'an Ch'un proceeded,"she said that, besides the flowers they wear, and the bamboo shoots,vegetables, fish and shrimps they eat from this garden of theirs,there's still enough every year for people to take over under contract,and that at the close of each year there's a surplus in full of twohundred taels. Ever since that day is it that I've become alive to thefact that even a broken lotus leaf, and a blade of withered grass arealike worth money."
"This is, in very truth, the way wealthy and well-to-do people talk!"Pao-ch'ai laughed. "But notwithstanding your honourable position, youngladies, you really understand nothing about these concerns. Yet, haven'tyou, with all your book-lore, seen anything of the passage in thewriting of Chu Fu-tzu: 'Throw not they self away?'"
"I've read it, it's true," T'an Ch'un smiled, "but its object is simplyto urge people to exert themselves; it's as much empty talk as anyrandom arguments, and how could it be bodily treated as gospel?"
"Chu-tzu's work all as much empty talk as any random arguments?"Pao-ch'ai exclaimed. "Why every sentence in it is founded on fact.You've only had the management of affairs in your hands for a couple ofdays, and already greed and ambition have so beclouded your mind thatyou've come to look upon Chu-tzu as full of fraud and falsehood. Butwhen you by and bye go out into the world and see all those mightyconcerns reeking with greed and corruption, you'll even go so far as totreat Confucius himself as a fraud!"
"Haven't you with all your culture read a book like that of Chi-tzu's?"Pan Ch'un laughed. "Chi-tzu said in bygone days 'that when one descendsinto the arena where gain and emoluments are to be got, and enters theworld of planning and plotting, one makes light of the injunctions ofYao and Shun, and disregards the principles inculcated by Confucius andMencius.'"
"What about the next line?" Pao-ch'ai insinuated with a significantsmile.
"I now cut the text short," T'an Ch'un smilingly rejoined, "in order toadapt the sense to what I want to say. Would I recite the followingsentence, and heap abuse upon my own self; is it likely I would; eh?"
"There's nothing under the heavens that can't be turned to some use,"Pao-ch'ai added. "And since everything can be utilised, everything mustbe worth money. But can it be that a person gifted with suchintelligence as yours can have had no experience in such great mattersand legitimate concerns as these?"
"You send for a person," Li Wan laughingly interposed, 'and you don'tspeak about what's right and proper, but you start an argument onlearning."
"Learning is right and proper," Pao-ch'ai answered. "If we made noallusion to learning, we'd all soon enough drift among the rustic herd!"
The trio bandied words for a while, after which they turned theirattention again to pertinent affairs.
T'an Ch'un took up once more the thread of the conversation. "Thisgarden of ours," she argued, "is only half as big as theirs, so if youdouble the income they derive, you will see that we ought to reap a netprofit of four hundred taels a year. But were we also now to secure acontract for our surplus products, the money, we'd earn, would, ofcourse, be a me
re trifle and not one that a family like ours shouldhanker after. And were we to depute two special persons (to attend tothe garden), the least permission given by them to any one to turnanything to improper uses, would, since there be so many things ofintrinsic value, be tantamount to a reckless destruction of the gifts ofheaven. So would it not be preferable to select several quiet, steadyand experienced old matrons, out of those stationed in the grounds, andappoint them to put them in order and look after things? Neither willthere be any need then to make them pay any rent, or give any taxes inkind. All we can ask them is to supply the household with whatever theycan afford during the year. In the first place, the garden will, withspecial persons to look after the plants and trees, naturally so improvefrom year to year that there won't be any bustle or confusion, wheneverthe time draws nigh to utilise the grounds. Secondly, people won'tventure to injure or uselessly waste anything. In the third place, theold matrons themselves will, by availing themselves of these smallperquisites, not labour in the gardens year after year and day after dayall for no good. Fourthly, it will in like manner be possible to effecta saving in the expenditure for gardeners, rockery-layers, sweepers andother necessary servants. And this excess can be utilised for making upother deficiencies. I don't see any reason why this shouldn't bepracticable!"
Pao-ch'ai was standing below contemplating the pictures with characterssuspended on the walls. Upon hearing these suggestions, she readilynodded her head assentingly and smiled. "Excellent!" she cried. "'Withinthree years, there will be no more famines and dearths.'"
"What a first-rate plan!" Li Wan chimed in. "This, if actually adopted,will delight the heart of Madame Wang. Pecuniary economies are ofthemselves a paltry matter; but there will be then in the garden thoseto sweep the grounds, and those whose special charge will be to lookafter them. Besides, were the persons selected allowed to turn up anhonest cash by selling part of the products, they will be so impelled bya sense of their responsibilities, and prompted by a desire of gain thatthere won't any longer be any who won't acquit themselves of theirduties to the fullest measure."
"It remained for you, miss, to put these suggestions in words," P'ingErh remarked. "Our mistress may have entertained the idea, but it is byno means certain that she thought it nice on her part to give utteranceto it. For as you, young ladies, live at present in the garden, shecould not possibly, unable as she is to supply such additional ornamentsas will make it more showy, contrariwise depute people to exerciseauthority in it, and to keep it in order, with a view of effecting areduction in expenses. Such a proposal could never have dropped from herlips."
Pao-ch'ai advanced up to her with alacrity. Rubbing her face: "Open thatmouth of yours wide," she laughed, "and let me see of what stuff yourteeth and tongue are made! Ever since you put your foot out of bed thismorning you've jabbered away up to this very moment! And your song hasall been in one strain. For neither have you been very complimentary toMiss Tertia, nor have you admitted that your mistress is, as far as witsgo, so much below the mark as to be unable to effect suitable provision.Yet whenever Miss Tertia advanced any arguments, you've at once made useof endless words to join issue with her. This is because the plandevised by Miss Tertia was also hit upon by your lady Feng. But theremust surely have been a reason why she couldn't carry it into execution.Again, as the young ladies have now their quarters in the garden, shecouldn't, with any decency, direct any one to go and rule over it, forthe mere sake of saving a few cash. Just consider this. If the garden isactually handed to people to make profit out of it, the partiesinterested will, of course, not even permit a single spray of flowers tobe plucked, and not a single fruit to be taken away. With such as comewithin the category of senior young ladies, they won't naturally havethe audacity to be particular; but they'll daily have endless rows withthe junior girls. (Lady Feng) has, with her fears about the future andher misgivings about the present, shown herself neither too overbearingnor too servile. This mistress of theirs is not friendly disposedtowards us, but when she hears of her various proposals, shame mightinduce her to turn over a new leaf."
"Early this morning," T'an Ch'un laughingly observed, "I was very cross,but as soon as I heard of her (P'ing Erh's) arrival, I casuallyremembered that her mistress employed, during her time, such domesticsas were up to all kinds of larks, and at the sight of her, I got morecross than ever. But, little though one would have thought it, shebehaved from the moment she came, like a rat that tries to get out ofthe way of a cat. And as she had had to stand for ever so long, I pitiedher very much; but she took up the thread of the conversation, and wenton to spin that long yarn of hers. Yet, instead of mentioning that hermistress treats me with every consideration, she, on the contrary,observed: 'The kindness with which you have all along dealt with ourlady miss, has not been to no purpose.' This remark therefore not onlydispelled my anger, but filled me with so much shame that I began tofeel sore at heart. And, when I came to think carefully over the matter,I failed to see how I, a mere girl, who had personally done so muchmischief that not a soul cared a straw for me and not a soul took anyinterest in me, could possess any such good qualities as to treat anyone kindly...."
When she reached this point, she could not check her tears from brimmingover. Li Wan and her associates perceived how pathetically she spoke;and, recalling to mind bow Mrs. Chao had always run her down, and howshe had ever been involved in some mess or other with Madame Wang, onaccount of this Mrs. Chao, they too found it difficult to refrain frommelting into sobs. But they then used their joint efforts to consoleher.
"Let's avail ourselves of this quiet day," they suggested, "to try andfind out how we could increase our revenue and remove abuses, so as notto render futile the charge laid on us by Madame Wang. What use orpurpose is it to allude to such trivial matters?"
"I've already grasped your object," P'ing Erh hastily ventured. "Miss,speak out; who do you consider fit? And as soon as the proper personshave been fixed upon, everything will be square enough."
"What you say is all very well," T'an Ch'un rejoined, "but it will benecessary to let your lady know something about it. It has never beenthe proper thing for us in here to scrape together any small profits.But as your mistress is full of gumption, I adopted the course I did.Had she been at all narrowminded, with many prejudices and manyjealousies, I wouldn't have shown the least willingness in the matter.But, as it will look as if I were bent upon pulling her to pieces, howcan I take action without consulting her?"
"In that case," P'ing Erh smiled, "I'll go and tell her something aboutit."
With this response, she went on the errand; and only returned after along lapse of time. "I said," she laughed, "that it would be perfectlyuseless for me to go. How ever could our lady not readily accede to anexcellent proposal like this?"
Hearing this, T'an Ch'un forthwith joined Li Wan in directing a servantto ask for the roll, containing the names of the matrons in the garden,and bring it to them. When produced, they all held council together, andfixing cursorily upon several persons, they summoned them to appearbefore them. Li Wan then explained to them the general outline of theirduties; and not one was there among the whole company, who listened toher, who would not undertake the charge. One said: "If you confide thatbamboo tree for twelve months to my care, it will again next year be asingle tree, but besides the shoots, which will have been eaten at home,I shall be able, in the course of the year, to also pay in some money.""Hand me over," another one remarked, "that portion of paddy field, andthere will, during the year, be no need to touch any public funds onaccount of the various birds, large and small, which are kept for merefun. Besides that, I shall be in a position to give in something more."
T'an Ch'un was about to pass a remark when a servant reported that thedoctor had come; and that he had entered the garden to see Miss Shih. Sothe matrons were obliged to go and usher the doctor in.
"Were there a hundred of you here," promptly expostulated P'ing Erh,"you wouldn't know what propriety means! Are there perchance no coupleof
housekeepers about to push themselves forward and see the doctor in?"
"There's dame Wu and dame T'an," the servant, who brought the message,replied. "The two are on duty at the south-west corner at the'accumulated splendour' gate."
At this answer, P'ing Erh allowed the subject to drop.
After the departure of the matrons, T'an Ch'un inquired of Pao-ch'aiwhat she thought of them.
"Such as are diligent at the outset," Pao-ch'ai answered smiling,"become remiss in the end; and those who have a glib tongue have an eyeto gain."
T'an Ch'un listened to her reply; and nodding her head, she extolled itswisdom. Then showing them with her finger several names on the list, shesubmitted them for the perusal of the trio. P'ing Erh speedily went andfetched a pen and inkslab.
"This old mother Chu," the trio observed, "is a trustworthy woman.What's more, this old dame and her sons have generation after generationdone the sweeping of the bamboo groves. So let's now place the variousbamboo trees under her control. This old mother T'ien was originally afarmer, and everything in the way of vegetables and rice, in and aboutthe Tao Hsiang village, should, albeit they couldn't, planted as theyare as a mere pastime, be treated in such earnest as to call for largeworks and extensive plantations, be entrusted to her care; for won'tthey fare better if she can be on the spot and tend them with extradiligence at the proper times and seasons?"
"What a pity it is," T'an Ch'un proceeded smilingly, "that two places sospacious as the Heng Wu garden and the I Hung court bring no grit to themill."
"Things in the Heng Wu garden are in a worse state," Li Wan hastilyinterposed. "Aren't the scented wares and scented herbs sold at presenteverywhere in perfumery shops, large fairs and great temples the verycounterpart of these things here? So if you reckon up, you will find howmuch greater a return these articles will give than any other kind ofproduct. As for the I Hung court, we needn't mention other things, butonly take into account the roses that bud during the two seasons ofspring and summer; to how many don't they amount in all? Besides these,we've got along the whole hedge, cinnamon roses and monthly roses, stockroses, honey-suckle and westeria. Were these various flowers dried andsold to the tea and medicine shops, they'd also fetch a good deal ofmoney."
"Quite so!" T'an Ch'un acquiesced with a smile. "The thing is thatthere's no one with any notion how to deal with scented herbs."
"There's Ying Erh who waits on Miss Pao-ch'ai," P'ing Erh promptlysmiled. "Her mother is well-versed in these things. It was only theother day that she plucked a few, and plaited them, after drying themwell in the sun, into a flower-basket and a gourd, and gave them to meto play with. But miss can you have forgotten all about it?"
"I was this very minute speaking in your praise," Pao-ch'ai observedsmiling, "and do you come to chaff me?"
"What makes you say so?" exclaimed the trio, in utter astonishment.
"It will on no account do," Pao-ch'ai added. "You employ such a lot ofpeople in here that they all lead a lazy life and have nothing to put ahand to, and were I also now to introduce some more, that tribe willlook even upon me with utter contempt. But let me think of some one foryou. There's in the I Hung court, an old dame Yeh; she's Pei Ming'smother. That woman is an honest old lady; and is furthermore on the bestof terms with our Ying Erh's mother. So wouldn't it be well were thischarge given to this dame Yeh? Should there even be anything that shedoesn't know, there'll be no necessity for us to tell her. She can gostraightway and consult with Ying Erh's mother. And if she can't attendto everything herself, it won't matter to whom she relegates some of herduties. These will be purely private favours. In the event too of anyone making any mean insinuations, the blame won't fall on our shoulders.By adopting this course, you'll be managing things in such a way as todo extreme justice to all; and the trust itself will also be placed on amost satisfactory footing."
"Excellent!" ejaculated Li Wan and P'ing Erh simultaneously.
"This may be well and good," T'an Ch'un laughed, "but the fear is thatat the sight of gain, they'll forget all about propriety."
"That's nothing to do with us!" P'ing Erh rejoined a smile playing,about her lips. "It was only the other day that Ying Erh recognised dameYeh as her adopted mother, and invited her to eat and drink with them,so that the two families are on the most intimate terms."
At this assurance, T'an Ch'un relinquished the topic of conversation,and, holding council together, they selected several persons, all ofwhom the four had ever viewed with impartial favour and they marked offtheir names, by dotting them with a pen.
In a little while, the matrons came to report that 'the doctor hadgone;' and they handed the prescription. Their three mistresses thenperused its contents. On the one hand, they despatched domestics to takeit outside, so that the drugs should be got, and to superintend theirdecoction. On the other, T'an Ch'un and Li Wan explicitly explained tothe various servants chosen what particular place each had to lookafter. "Exclusive," they added, "of what fixed custom requires for homeconsumption during the four seasons, you are still at liberty to pluckwhatever remains and have it taken away. As for the profits, we'llsettle accounts at the close of the year."
"I've also bethought myself of something," T'an Ch'un smiled. "If thesettlement of accounts takes place at the end of the year, the moneywill, at the time of delivery, be naturally paid into the accountancy.Those high up will then as usual add a whole lot of controllers; andthese will, on their part, fleece their own share as soon as the moneygets into the palms of their hand. But as by this system, we've nowinitiated, you've been singled out for appointment, you've alreadyridden so far above their heads, that they foster all sorts of animosityagainst you. They don't, however, give vent to their feelings; but ifthey don't seize the close of the year, when you have to deliver youraccounts, to play their tricks on you, for what other chances will theywait? Moreover, they obtain, in everything that comes under theircontrol during the year, half of every share their masters get. This isan old custom. Every one is aware of its existence. But this is a newregime I now introduce in this garden, so don't let the money find itsway into their hands! Whenever the annual settling of accounts arrives,bring them in to us."
"My idea is," Pao-ch'ai smilingly suggested, "that no accounts need behanded even inside. This one will have a surplus, that one a deficit, sothat it will involve no end of trouble; wouldn't it be better thereforeif we were to find out who of them would take over this or thatparticular kind and let them purvey the various things? These are forthe exclusive use of the inmates of the garden; and I've already made anestimate of them for you. They amount to just a few sorts, and simplyconsist of head-oil, rouge, powder and scented paper; in all of which,the young ladies and maids are subject to a fixed rule. Then, besidesthese, there are the brooms, dust-baskets and poles, wanted in differentlocalities, and the food for the large and small animals and birds, andthe deer and rabbits. These are the only kinds of things required. Andif they contract for them, there'll be little need for any one to go tothe accountancy for money. But just calculate what a saving will thus beeffected!"
"All these items are, I admit, mere trifles," P'ing Erh smiled, "but ifyou lump together what's used during a year, you will find that a savingof four hundred taels will be effected."
"Again!" smilingly remarked Pao-ch'ai, "it would be four hundred taelsin one year; but eight hundred taels in two years; and with these, wecould purchase a few more houses and let them; and in the way of poor,sandy land we could also add several acres to those we've already got.'There will, of course, still remain a surplus; but as they will haveample trouble and inconvenience to put up with during the year, theyshould also be allowed some balance in hand so as to make up what'swanted for themselves. The main object is, of course, to increaseprofits and curtail expenses, yet we couldn't be stingy to any excessivedegree. In fact, were we even able to make any further economy of overtwo or three hundred taels, it would never be the proper thing; shouldthis involve a breach of the main principles of decorum. With thiscourse
duly put into practice, outside, the accountancy will issue inone year four or five hundred taels less, without even the semblance ofany parsimony; while, inside, the matrons will obtain, on the otherhand, some little thing to supply their wants with; the nurses, who haveno means of subsistence, will likewise be placed in easy circumstances;and the plants and trees in the garden will year by year increase instrength and grow more abundantly. In this wise, you too will have sucharticles as will be fit for use. So that this plan will, to some extent,not constitute a breach of the high principles of propriety. And if everwe want to retrench a little more from where won't we be able to getmoney? But if the whole balance, if any, be put to the credit of thepublic fund, every one, inside as well as outside, will fill the streetswith the din of murmurings! And won't this be then a slur upon the codeof honour of a household such as yours? So were any charge to beentrusted to this one, out of the several tens of old nurses at presentemployed in the garden, and not to that one, the remainder willnaturally resent such injustice. As I said a while back all that thesewomen will have to provide among themselves amounts to a few articles,so they will unavoidably have ample means. Hence each should be told tocontribute, beyond the articles that fall to her share during the year,a certain number of tiaos, whether she may or may not realise anybalance, and then jointly lump these sums together, and distribute themamong those nurses only on service in the garden. For although they maynot have anything to do with the control of these things, theythemselves will have to stay in the grounds, to keep an eye over theservants on duty, to shut the doors, to close the windows and to get upearly and retire late. Whenever it rains in torrents or it snows hardand chairs have to be carried, for you, young ladies, to go out and comein; or boats have to be punted, and sledges drawn, these rough andarduous duties come alike within their sphere of work. They have tolabour in the garden from one year's end to the other, and though, theyearn something in those grounds, it's only right that they should ableto get some small benefits in the discharge of their legitimate duties.But there's another most trivial point that I would broach with lessreserve. If you only think of your ease, and don't share the profitswith them, they will, of course, never presume to show theirdispleasure, but in their hearts they won't cherish you any goodfeeling. What they'll do will be to make public business a pretext toserve their own private ends with; they'll pluck more of your fruitsthan they should; and cut greater quantities of your flowers than theyought. And you people will have a grievance, but you won't have anywhereto go and confide it. But should they too reap some gain, they'llreadily look after such things on your behalf as you won't have the timeto attend to."
The matrons listened to her explanations; (and finding that) they wouldbe removed from the control of the accountancy, that they would not becompelled to go and settle accounts with lady Feng, and that all thatthey would be called upon to do every year would be to supply a few moretiaos, were each and all delighted to an exceptional degree. So much so,that every one of them exclaimed in a chorus that they were quiteprepared to agree to the terms. "It is better," they said, "than to beobliged to go out and be squeezed by them; and to have to fork out ourown money as well."
Those too not entrusted with the care of any portion of land were alsohighly elated, when they heard that at the close of each year theywould, though they had no valid claim, come in for some share of hardcash.
"They'll have to bear the trouble," they however argued, "to keep thingsin order, so it's only right that they should be left with a few cash tomeet their various wants with; and how could we very well gobble ourthree meals without doing a stroke of work?"
"Worthy dames," Pao-ch'ai smiled, "you mustn't decline. These duties arewithin your province and you should fulfil them. All you need do is toexert yourselves a bit by day and night, and not be so remiss andcareless as to suffer any of the servants to drink and gamble; that'sall. Otherwise, I myself must have nothing to do with the control. Butyou, yourselves, know well enough that it's my aunt who appealed to mewith her own lips three and five times to do it as a favour to her.'Your eldest sister-in-law,' she represented, 'has at present noleisure, and the other girls are young,' and then she asked me to lookafter things. So if I now don't accede, it's as clear as day that Ishall be the cause of much worry to my aunt. Our lady Feng herself isseriously ill, and our domestic affairs can't hang fire. I'm really withnothing to do, so were even a mere neighbour to solicit my help, I wouldalso feel bound to lend her a hand in her pressure of work. How muchmore therefore when it's my own aunt, who invokes my aid? Setting asidethe way I'm execrated by one and all, how would I ever be able to staremy aunt in the face, if, while I gave my sole mind to winning fame andfishing for praise, any one got so intoxicated and lost so much ingambling as to stir up trouble? At such a juncture remorse on your partwill be too late! Even the old reputation you have ever enjoyed willentirely be lost and gone. Those young ladies and girls and this vastgarden are alike placed under your supervision, purely and simplybecause one takes into account that you have been nurses to three orfour generations and that you have most scrupulously observed the rulesof etiquette and propriety. It's but fair that you should try, with onemind, and show some little regard for what's right and proper. But ifyou contrariwise behave with such laxity as to let people gratify theirwishes by guzzling and gambling, and my aunt comes to hear of these nicedoings, a little scolding from her will be of little consequence. But ifthe various women, who attend to the household, get scent of the stateof affairs, they will haul you over the coals, without even so much asbreathing one single word beforehand to my aunt. And venerable people,though you are, you will then, instead of tendering advice to youngpeople, be called to account by them. As housekeepers, they exercise,it's true, authority over you; but why shouldn't you yourselves observea certain amount of decorum? And if you do so, will they have anyoccasion to bully you? The reason why I've now bethought myself of thisspecial boon for you is that you should unanimously strain every nerveto diligently attend to the garden, in order that the powers that bemay, at the sight of your unrelenting care and zeal, have no cause togive way to solicitude. And won't they inwardly look up to you withregard? Neither will you render of no effect the various benefitsdevised for them. But go now and minutely ponder over all my advice!"
All the women received her words with gratification. "What you say isquite right," they replied. "From this time forth you, miss, and you,our lady, can well compose your minds. With the interest both of youfeel on our behalf, may heaven and earth not spare us, if we do notdisplay a full amount of gratitude for all your kindnesses."
These assurances were still being uttered when they saw Lin Chih-hsiao'swife walk in. "The family of the Chen mansion of Chiang Nan," sheexplained, "arrived in the capital yesterday. To-day, they're going intothe palace to offer their congratulations. But they've now sentmessengers ahead to come and bring presents and pay their respects."
While she spoke, she produced the list of presents and handed it up.T'an Ch'un took it over from her. "They consist," she said, perusing it,"of twelve rolls of brocades and satins embroidered with dragons, suchas are for imperial use; twelve rolls of satins of various colours, ofthe kind worn by the Emperor; twelve rolls of every sort of imperialgauze; twelve rolls of palace silks of the quality used by his majesty;and twenty rolls of satins, gauzes, silks and thin silks of differentcolours, generally worn by officials."
After glancing over the list, Li Wan and T'an Ch'un suggested that afirst-class tip should be given to the messengers who brought them,after which, they went on to direct a servant to convey the tidings todowager lady Chia.
Old lady Chia gave orders to call Li Wan, T'an Ch'un, Pao-ch'ai and theother girls. On their arrival, the presents were passed under review;and this over, Li Wan put them aside. "You must wait," she said to theservants of the inner store-room, "until Madame Wang comes back and seesthem; you can then lock them up."
"This Chen family too," old lady Chia thereupon added, "isn't like anyother fa
mily; the highest tips should therefore be conferred upon themen. But as in a twinkle, they may also send some of their womankind tocome and make their obeisance, silks should be got ready inanticipation."
Scarcely was this remark concluded before a domestic actually announced:'that four ladies of the Chen mansion had come to pay their respects.'
Upon hearing this, dowager lady Chia hastily directed that they shouldbe introduced into her presence. The four women ranged from forty yearsand over. Their clothing and head-gear were not, in any material degree,different from those of mistresses. As soon as they presented theircompliments and inquired about their healths, old lady Chia desired thatfour footstools should be moved forward. But though the four womenthanked her for bidding them sit down, they only occupied the stools,after Pao-ch'ai had seated herself.
"When did you enter the capital?" old lady Chia inquired.
The four women jumped to their feet with alacrity. "We entered thecapital yesterday," they answered. "Our lady has taken our young ladytoday into the palace to pay their homage. That's why she bade us comeand give you their compliments, and see how the young ladies are gettingon."
"You hadn't paid a visit to the capital for ever so many years," dowagerlady Chia smilingly observed, "and here you appear now quiteunexpectedly!"
The four women simultaneously smiled again. "Quite so!" they said. "Wereceived this year imperial orders, summoning us to the capital!"
"Has the whole family come?" old lady Chia asked.
"Our old mistress, our young master, the two young ladies and the otherladies haven't come up," the four women explained. "Only our lady hascome, together with Miss Tertia."
"Is she engaged to any one?" old lady Chia asked.
"Not yet," rejoined the quartet.
"The two families, that of your senior married lady and that of yourlady Secunda are both on most intimate terms with ours," dowager ladyChia smilingly added.
"Yes, they are," replied the four women with a smile. "The lettersreceived each year from our young ladies, assure us that they'reentirely dependent upon the kindness bestowed upon them, in your worthymansion, for their well-being."
"What kindness?" old lady Chia exclaimed laughingly. "These two familiesare really friends of long standing. In addition to this, they're oldrelatives. So what we do is our simple bounden duty. What's more in thefavour of your two young ladies is, that they're not full of their ownimportance. That's how it is that we've come to be on such close terms."
The four women smiled. "This is mainly due to your venerable ladyship'sexcessive humility," they answered.
"Is that young gentleman of yours too with your old mistress?" old ladyChia went on to inquire.
"Yes, he has also come with our old mistress," the four women retorted.
"How old is he?" old lady Chia then asked. "Does he go to school?" sheafterwards inquired.
"He's thirteen this year," the four women said by way of response. "Butall through those good looks of his, our old mistress cherishes him sofondly that from his youth up, he has been wayward to the extreme, andthat he now daily plays the truant. But our master and mistress as welldon't keep any great check over him."
"Yet, he can't resemble that young fellow of ours," old lady Chialaughed. "What's the name of your young gentleman?"
"As our old mistress treats him just like a real precious gem," thequartet explained, "and as his complexion is naturally so white, herladyship calls him Pao-yue."
"Here's another one with the name of Pao-yue!" old lady Chia laughinglysaid to Li Wan.
Li Wan and her companions hastily made a curtsey. "There have been, fromold times to the present," they smiled, "very many among contemporariesand persons of different generations as well, who have borne duplicatenames."
The four women also smiled. "After the selection of this infant name,"they proceeded, "we all, both high or low, began to give way tosurmises, as we could not make out in what relative's or friend's familythere was a lad also called by the same name. But as we hadn't come tothe capital for ten years or so, we couldn't remember."
"That young fellow is my grandson," dowager lady Chia remarked. "Hallo!some one come here!"
The married women and maids assented and approached several steps.
"Go into the garden," old lady Chia smilingly said, "and call our Pao-yuehere, so that these four housekeeping dames should see how he compareswith their own Pao-yue."
The married women, upon hearing her orders, promptly went off. After awhile, they entered the room pressing round Pao-yue. The moment the fourdames caught sight of him, they speedily rose to their feet. "He hasgiven us such a start!" they exclaimed smilingly. "Had we not come intoyour worthy mansion, and perchance, met him, elsewhere, we would havetaken him for our own Pao-yue, and followed him as far as the capital."
While speaking they came forward and took hold of his hands and assailedhim with questions.
Pao-yue however also put on a smile and inquired after their healths.
"How do his looks compare with those of your young gentleman?" dowagerlady Chia asked as she smiled.
"The way the four dames ejaculated just now," Li Wan and her companionsexplained, "was sufficient to show how much they resemble in looks."
"How could there ever he such a coincidence?" old lady Chia laughed."Yet, the children of wealthy families are so delicately nurtured thatunless their faces are so deformed as to make them downright ugly,they're all equally handsome, as far as general appearances go. Sothere's nothing strange in this!"
"As we gaze at his features," the quartet added, with smiling faces, "wefind him the very image of him; and from what we gather from yourvenerable ladyship, he's also like him in waywardness. But, as far as wecan judge, this young gentleman's disposition is ever so much betterthan that of ours."
"What makes you think so?" old lady Chia precipitately inquired.
"We saw it as soon as we took hold of the young gentleman's hands," thefour women laughingly rejoined, "and when he spoke to us. Had it beenthat fellow of ours, he would have simply called us fools. Not to speakof taking his hand in ours, why we daren't even slightly move any of histhings. That's why, those who wait on him are invariably young girls."
Before the four dames had time to conclude what they had to say, Li Wanand the rest found it so hard to check themselves that with one voicethey burst into loud laughter.
Old lady Chia also laughed. "Let's also send some one now," she said,"to have a look at your Pao-yue. When his hand is taken, he too is sureto make an effort to put up with it. But don't you know that children offamilies such as yours and mine are bound, notwithstanding theirnumerous perverse and strange defects, to return the orthodoxcivilities, when they come across any strangers. But should they notreturn the proper civilities, they should, by no manner of means, besuffered to behave with such perverseness. It's the way that grown-uppeople doat on them that makes them what they are. And as they can,first and foremost, boast of bewitching good looks and they comportthemselves, secondly, towards visitors with all propriety--, in fact,with less faulty deportment than their very seniors--, they manage towin the love and admiration of such as only get a glimpse of them. Henceit is that they're secretly indulged to a certain degree. But if theydon't show the least regard to any one inside or outside, and so reflectno credit upon their parents, they deserve, with all their handsomelooks, to be flogged to death."
These sentiments evoked a smile from the four dames. "Your wordsvenerable lady," they exclaimed, "are quite correct. But though ourPao-yue be wilful and strange in his ways, yet, whenever he meets anyvisitors, he behaves with courteousness and good manners; so much so,that he's more pleasing to watch than even grown-up persons. There is noone, therefore, who sees him without falling in love with him. Butyou'll say: 'why is he then beaten?' You really aren't aware that athome he has no regard either for precept or for heaven; that he comesout with things that never suggest themselves to the imagination ofgrown-up people, and that he does everythin
g that takes one by surprise.The result is that his father and mother are driven to their wits' ends.But wilfulness is natural to young children. Reckless expenditure is acommon characteristic of young men. Antipathy to school is a commonfeeling with young people. Yet there are ways and means to bring himround. The worse with him is that his disposition is so crotchety andwhimsical. Can this ever do?...."
This reply was barely ended when a servant informed them that theirmistress had returned. Madame Wang entered the room, and saluted thewomen. The four dames paid their obeisance to her. But they had just hadsufficient time to pass a few general observations, when dowager ladyChia bade them go and rest. Madame Wang then handed the tea in personand withdrew from the apartment. But when the four dames got up to saygood-bye, old lady Chia adjourned to Madame Wang's quarters. After achat with her on domestic affairs, she however told the women to goback; so let us put them by without any further allusion to them.
During this while, old lady Chia's spirits waxed so high, that she toldevery one and any one she came across that there was another Pao-yue, andthat he was, in every respect, the very image of her grandson.
But as each and all bore in mind that there were many inmates among thelarge households of those officials with official ancestors, called bythe same names, that it was an ordinary occurrence for a grandmother tobe passionately fond of her grandson, and that there was nothingout-of-the-way about it, they treated the matter as of no significance.Pao-yue alone however was such a hair-brained simpleton that heconjectured that the statements made by the four dames had been intendedto flatter his grandmother Chia.
But subsequently he betook himself into the garden to see how ShihHsiang-yuen was getting on.
"Compose your mind now," Shih Hsiang-yuen then said to him, "and go onwith your larks! Once, you were as lonely as a single fibre, which can'tbe woven into thread, and like a single bamboo, which can't form agrove, but now you've found your pair. When you exasperate your parents,and they give you beans, you'll be able to bolt to Nanking in quest ofthe other Pao-yue."
"What utter rubbish!" Pao-yue exclaimed. "Do you too believe that there'sanother Pao-yue?"
"How is it," Hsiang-yuen asked, "that there was some one in the Liehstate called Lin Hsiang-ju, and that during the Han dynasty there livedagain another person, whose name was Ssu Ma Hsiang-ju?"
"This matter of names is all well enough," Pao-yue rejoined with a smile."But as it happens, his very appearance is the counterpart of mine. Sucha thing could never be!"
"How is it," Hsiang-yuen inquired, "that when the K'uang people sawConfucius, they fancied it was Yang Huo?"
"Confucius and Yang Huo," Pao-yue smilingly argued, "may have been alikein looks, but they hadn't the same names. Lin and Ssu were again,notwithstanding their identical names, nothing like each other inappearances. But can it ever be possible that he and I should resembleeach other in both respects?"
Hsiang-yuen was at a loss what reply to make to his arguments. "You may,"she consequently remarked smiling, "propound any rubbish you like, I'mnot in the humour to enter into any discussion with you. Whether therebe one or not is quite immaterial to me. It doesn't concern me at all."
Saying this, she lay herself down.
Pao-yue however began again to exercise his mind with further surmises."If I say," he cogitated, "that there can't be one, there seems from allappearances to be one. And if I say that there is one, I haven't, on theother hand, seen him with my own eyes."
Sad and dejected he returned therefore to his quarters, and reclining onhis couch, he silently communed with his own thoughts until heunconsciously became drowsy and fell fast asleep.
Finding himself (in his dream) in some garden or other, Pao-yue wasseized with astonishment. "Besides our own garden of Broad Vista," hereflected, "is there another such garden?" But while indulging in thesespeculations, several girls, all of whom were waiting-maids, suddenlymade their appearance from the opposite direction. Pao-yue was againfilled with surprise. "Besides Yuean Yang, Hsi Jen and P'ing Erh," hepondered, "are there verily such maidens as these?"
"Pao-yue!" he heard that company of maids observe, with faces beamingwith smiles, "how is it you find yourself in here?"
Pao-yue laboured under the impression that they were addressing him. Withhasty step, he consequently drew near them, and returned their smiles."I got here," he answered, "quite listlessly. What old family friend'sgarden is this, I wonder? But sisters, pray, take me for a stroll."
The maids smiled with one consent. "Really!" they exclaimed, "this isn'tour Pao-yue. But his looks too are spruce and nice; and he is asprecocious too with his tongue."
Pao-yue caught their remarks. "Sisters!" he eagerly cried, "is thereactually a second Pao-yue in here?"
"As for the two characters 'Pao-yue,'" the maids speedily explained,"every one in our house has received our old mistress' and our mistress'injunctions to use them as a spell to protract his life for many yearsand remove misfortune from his path, and when we call him by that name,he simply goes into ecstasies, at the very mention of it. But you, youngbrat, from what distant parts of the world do you hail that you'verecklessly been also dubbed by the same name? But beware lest we poundthat frowzy flesh of yours into mincemeat."
"Let's be off at once!" urged another maid, as she smiled. "Don't letour Pao-yue see us here and say again that by hobnobbing with thisstinking young fellow, we've been contaminated by all his pollution."
With these words on her lips, they straightway walked off.
Pao-yue fell into a brown study. "There's never been," he mused, "any oneto treat me with such disdain before! But what is it, in fact, thatinduces them to behave towards me in this manner? May it not be truethat there lives another human being the very image of myself?"
While lost in reverie, he advanced with heedless step, until he reacheda courtyard. Pao-yue was struck with wonder. "Is there actually," hecried, "besides the I Hung court another court like it?" Spontaneouslythen ascending the steps, he entered an apartment, in which he discernedsome one reclining on a couch. On the off side sat several girls, busyat needlework; now laughing joyfully; now practising their jokes; whenhe overheard the young person on the couch heave a sigh.
"Pao-yue," smilingly inquired a maid, "what, aren't you asleep? What areyou once more sighing for? I presume it's because your sister is illthat you abandon yourself again to idle fears and immoderate anguish!"
These words fell on Pao-yue's ears, and took him quite aback.
"I've heard grandmother say," he overheard the young person on the couchobserve, "that there lives at Ch'ang An, the capital, another Pao-yueendowed with the same disposition as myself. I never believed what shetold me; but I just had a dream, and in this dream I found myself in agarden of the metropolis where I came across several maidens; all ofwhom called me a 'stinking young brat,' and would have nothing whateverto do with me. But after much difficulty, I succeeded in penetratinginto his room. He happened to be fast asleep. There he lay like a merebag of bones. His real faculties had flown somewhere or other; whitherit was hard for me to say."
Hearing this, "I've come here," Pao-yue said with alacrity, "in search ofPao-yue; and are you, indeed, that Pao-yue?"
The young man on the couch jumped down with all haste and enfolded himin his arms. "Are you verily Pao-yue?" he laughingly asked. "This isn'tby any means such stuff as dreams are made of!"
"How can you call this a dream?" Pao-yue rejoined. "It's reality, yea,nothing but reality!"
But scarcely was this rejoinder over, than he heard some one come, andsay: "our master, your father, wishes to see you, Pao-yue."
The two lads started with fear. One Pao-yue rushed off with all despatch.The other promptly began to shout, "Pao-yue! come back at once! Pao-yue;be quick and return!"
Hsi Jen, who stood by (Pao-yue), heard him call out his own name, in hisdreams, and immediately gave him a push and woke him up. "Where isPao-yue gone to?" she laughed.
Although Pao-yue was by this time ar
oused from sleep, his senses were asyet dull, so pointing towards the door, "He's just gone out," hereplied, "he's not far off."
Hsi Jen laughed. "You're under the delusion of a dream," she said. "Rubyour eyes and look carefully! It's your reflection in the mirror."
Pao-yue cast a glance in front of him, and actually caught sight of thelarge inlaid mirror, facing him quite opposite, so he himself burst outlaughing. But, presently, a maid handed him a rince-bouche and tea andsalt, and he washed his mouth.
"Little wonder is it," She Yueeh ventured, "if our old mistress hasrepeatedly enjoined that it isn't good to have too many mirrors about inyoung people's rooms, for as the spirit of young persons is not fullydeveloped there is every fear, with mirrors casting their reflectionsall over the place, of their having wild dreams in their sleep. And is abed now placed before that huge mirror there? When the covers of themirrors are let down, no harm can befall; but as the season advances,and the weather gets hot, one feels so languid and tired, that is onelikely to think of dropping them? Just as it happened a little timeback; it slipped entirely from your memory. Of course, when he first gotinto bed, he must have played with his face towards the glass; but uponshortly closing his eyes, he must naturally have fallen into suchconfused dreams, that they thoroughly upset his rest. Otherwise, how isit possible that he should have started shouting his own name? Would itnot be as well if the bed were moved inside to-morrow? That's the properplace for it."
Hardly had she, however, done, before they perceived a servant, sent byMadame Wang to call Pao-yue. But what she wanted to tell him is not yetknown, so, reader, listen to the circumstances recorded in thesubsequent chapter.
END OF BOOK II.
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