The Dreamer Wakes

  ‘My dear Cheng,’ replied Jia Zheng, nodding his head gravely, ‘you do not seem to realize: I cannot even trust my own nephew, let alone the servants! And if I myself were to try to carry out an investigation such as you suggest, I could never hope to get to the root of the problem. Not that I could engage in such a thing anyway, while still in mourning. Even if I did, I have never paid much attention to household details in the past, so I really have no idea what we are supposed to have and what we don’t have. I would not know where to look.’

  ‘You are altogether too charitable and virtuous a man, sir,’ rejoined Cheng. ‘In any other family of comparable position, even if things had reached this critical state, the masters would count on being able to stave off disaster for another five or ten years by asking their stewards for money. I understand that one of your men has even been appointed to a district magistracy …’

  ‘No!’ cut in Jia Zheng firmly. ‘When a man stoops to borrowing from his own servants, it is the beginning of the end. We shall simply have to draw in our belts a little. If we still own the property that is down on our books, well and good. But personally I am inclined to believe that there may be very little reality behind some of those entries.’

  ‘Precisely, sir,’ replied Cheng. ‘That was my very reason for suggesting an inspection of the accounts.’

  ‘Why, have you heard something?’ asked Jia Zheng.

  ‘Word has reached me of some of the iniquities perpetrated by those servants of yours,’ answered Cheng. ‘But I hardly dare mention them in your presence, sir.’

  Jia Zheng realized from Cheng’s tone of voice that he was speaking the truth.

  ‘Alas!’ he sighed. ‘Since my grandfather’s day, we have always had a tradition in my family of being considerate and generous to our servants. We have never treated them harshly or given them cause for complaint. What is the present generation coming to! And if I were suddenly to start acting the strict master now, I hardly think I would be treated seriously.’

  As they were talking, one of the janitors came in and announced that Excellency Zhen of the Nanking family had come to call.

  ‘What brings him to the capital?’ asked Jia Zheng.

  ‘I understand, sir,’ replied the servant, ‘that he has been reinstated by Imperial favour.’

  ‘Show him in at once,' said Jia Zheng.

  The servant went out to usher in the visitor. This Excellency Zhen was the father of Zhen Bao-yu; his full name was Zhen Ying-jia, his courtesy name You-zhong (Friend of the Loyal). The Zhens were, it will be remembered, like the Jias, an illustrious old family from Nanking, and the two families had a long-standing family connection and had always seen a good deal of each other. Zhen Ying-jia had lost his post a year or two previously for some misdemeanour, and the family property had subsequently been confiscated. Now His Majesty the Emperor had shown him a special favour as the descendant of a loyal and deserving subject, had restored him to his hereditary position and had summoned him to the capital for an audience. Knowing that Lady Jia had recently passed away, Zhen had prepared an offering and had chosen an auspicious day in the almanac on which to convey the offering to the temple where her remains were lying. Before so doing he called at Rong-guo House to pay his respects.

  Mourning etiquette prevented Jia Zheng from going out to greet his guest, but he welcomed him at the threshold of his outer study. When Zhen Ying-jia saw him, sorrow and joy mingled in his breast. Both gentlemen refrained from any elaborate display of ceremony, and instead clasped each other simply by the hand and exchanged greetings. They sat down at either side of a table, Jia Zheng offered his guest some tea and they continued to talk for some little while.

  ‘When were you received by His Majesty?’ asked Jia Zheng.

  ‘The day before yesterday,’ replied Zhen Ying-jia.

  ‘His Majesty in his great kindness must surely have favoured you with some words of instruction.’

  ‘Yes indeed. His Majesty, whose kindness exceeds the heavens, has favoured me with a decree.’

  ‘May I enquire as to its import?’

  ‘In view of the recent outbreak of piracy on the South coast, and the unsettled conditions prevailing among the people there, His Majesty has despatched the Duke of An-guo on a mission of pacification against the rebels. Because of my familiarity with the region, he has ordered me to take part in the campaign. I shall have to leave almost immediately. When I learned yesterday that Lady Jia had passed away, I prepared a humble offering of petal-incense to burn before her coffin, as a small expression of my devotion.’

  Jia Zheng kowtowed his thanks and replied:

  ‘I am sure this enterprise will be an opportunity for you to set His Majesty’s mind at rest, and to bring peace to the nation. I have no doubt too that it will bring you great personal glory! I only regret that I shall not be able to witness it with my own eyes, but will have to content myself with hearing the news of your victories from afar. The present commander of the Zhenhai littoral is a relation of mine, and I hope that when you meet him you will receive him favourably.’

  ‘How are you related to the commander?’ asked Zhen Ying-jia.

  ‘During my period of office as Grain Intendant in Kiangsi,’ replied Jia Zheng, ‘I betrothed my daughter to his son, and they have been married three years now. A protracted coastal disturbance and the continued concentration of pirates in the region have prevented news of them from reaching us for quite some time. I am most concerned for my daughter’s well-being, and earnestly beseech you to visit her, when your duties are completed and a convenient opportunity presents itself. In the meanwhile I shall write her a short letter, and if you would be so kind as to have it delivered for me by one of your men, I should be eternally grateful.’

  ‘Children are a source of concern to us all,’ rejoined Zhen. ‘I myself was on the point of asking you a similar favour. When I received my instructions from His Majesty to proceed to the capital, I decided to bring my family with me; my son is of a tender age and we have so few servants at home now. I have had to hurry on ahead, while my family are following at a more leisurely pace and should arrive here any day. I have been given my marching orders already and cannot delay here any longer. When my family arrive they are sure to call on you, and I have instructed my son to kowtow to you in the hope of benefiting from your counsel. Should a suitable offer of marriage make itself known to you, I should be most grateful if you would make representations on our behalf.’

  ‘But of course,’ Jia Zheng assured him. After a little more chat, Zhen Ying-jia rose to take his leave, saying:

  ‘I shall hope to see you tomorrow outside the city.’

  Jia Zheng knew that Zhen must have many other engagements and would not be prevailed upon to stay. He saw him to the study door, where Jia Lian and Bao-yu were waiting to escort him out (in the absence of a summons from Jia Zheng they had not ventured into the study). The two younger men stepped forward to salute him. Zhen Ying-jia seemed quite stunned by the sight of Bao-yu.

  ‘Take away the white mourning clothes,’ he thought to himself. ‘and this young man is the very image of our own Bao-yu!’

  ‘It is such a long time since we last met,’ he said politely, ‘that I have quite forgotten your names.’

  Jia Zheng indicated Jia Lian:

  ‘My elder brother She’s son, Lian.’

  Then pointing to Bao-yu:

  ‘My own second son, Bao-yu.’

  Zhen clapped his hands:

  ‘How extraordinary! I heard tell at home that you had a well-loved son born with a jade, and that his name was Bao-yu. I was at first greatly surprised that our sons should share the same name, but later I reflected that such coincidences must be quite frequent. Now I have seen him in the flesh, I am amazed all over again! He is the living likeness of my own son! Not only his features, his whole manner and bearing are the same!’

  On being told Bao-yu’s age, he commented:

  ‘My son is a year younger.’

 
Jia Zheng went on to say that he had already gathered a little information about Zhen Bao-yu from Bao Yong, the former Zhen retainer whom Zhen Ying-jia had himself recommended to them. Zhen Ying-jia seemed too engrossed in Bao-yu to enquire after his old servant, but kept exclaiming:

  ‘Most extraordinary! Most extraordinary!’

  He took Bao-yu by the hand and was most affable towards him. Their conversation would have been longer had it not been for the fact that the Duke of An-guo was in a hurry to leave. Zhen did not wish to delay his superior, and himself needed to make hasty preparations for the long journey ahead. He therefore forced himself to say farewell and made a dignified departure, escorted by Jia Lian and Bao-yu. All the way he was still plying Bao-yu with questions. At last he mounted his carriage and was gone, and Jia Lian and Bao-yu returned to report to Jia Zheng. When they were dismissed Jia Lian went once more to endeavour to settle the accounts for Xi-feng’s funeral.

  Bao-yu returned to his own room and told Bao-chai of his encounter with Zhen Ying-jia.

  ‘I never thought I’d have a chance to see that Zhen Bao-yu we are always hearing about, but now I’ve seen his father, and apparently the son will be coming any day to call on Father. Excellency Zhen called me the “living likeness of his son”, which I find hard to believe. If this other Bao-yu does come, you must all be sure to take a peep at him, and judge whether there really is a resemblance.’

  ‘Shame on you!’ exclaimed Bao-chai. ‘Honestly, you grow more and more thoughtless with every day! First you treat us to a story about some young man who’s supposed to look like you, then you want us to go and “take a peep” at him! What next!’

  Bao-yu realized that he had said the wrong thing, and blushed. He tried to think of some way of rectifying his gaffe, but to learn more you will have to turn to the next chapter.

  Chapter 115

  A private obsession revived confirms Xi-chun in an ancient vow

  A physical likeness verified deprives Bao-yu of an imagined friend

  Before Bao-yu had time to appease Bao-chai, Ripple came in and announced:

  ‘The Master wishes to see Bao-yu.’

  Bao-yu did not wait for any second bidding.

  ‘I want to have a word with you,’ said Jia Zheng, when he arrived, ‘concerning your studies. You are still in mourning and it would therefore be improper for you to attend school; but you can and must revise your compositions. Over the next few days I shall have some leisure, and I want you to write me a few samples at home. I shall then be able to judge for myself whether in all this time you have made any discernible progress.’

  ‘Yes, Father,’ said Bao-yu rather miserably.

  ‘I have instructed your brother Huan and your nephew Lan to revise as well. I sincerely hope that your work will be better than theirs.’

  ‘Yes, Father.’ Bao-yu dared say nothing more, but stood rooted to the spot.

  ‘Off with you, then.’

  As he withdrew from the study, Bao-yu passed Lai Da and the other stewards coming in with their registers.

  He was back in his room like a flash, and communicated the substance of his interview to Bao-chai, who seemed rather pleased to hear it. Bao-yu himself groaned inwardly, but knew that it would be inadvisable to appear idle and was preparing to settle down and concentrate, when two nuns from the Convent of the Saviour King arrived to pay their respects to Bao-chai. She told a maid to bring them tea, but was otherwise decidedly offhand towards them, while Bao-yu, who would have liked to talk with the sisters, could tell that Bao-chai found their company distasteful and therefore refrained. The nuns for their part knew only too well that Bao-chai was unsympathetic to their cause, and after sitting for a short time they excused themselves.

  ‘Won’t you stay a little longer?’ asked Bao-chai somewhat disingenuously.

  ‘We have so many calls to make,’ replied one of them. ‘What with the masses we’ve been saying at the Temple of the Iron Threshold, we’ve been kept very busy and haven’t called on Their Ladyships and the young ladies in a very long while. Apart from your good self, we’ve already been to see Mrs Zhu and Their Ladyships, but we still have Miss Xi-chun to call on.’

  Bao-chai nodded, and the nuns proceeded to Xi-chun’s apartment. They asked Landscape, who received them, where her mistress could be found.

  ‘My mistress hasn’t eaten for days,’ exclaimed Landscape, ‘and now she won’t even get up from her bed.’

  ‘Why? What’s the matter?’

  ‘Oh, it’s a long story. I’m sure she’ll tell you all about it when you see her.’

  Xi-chun had heard them talking as they came in, and sat up at once.

  ‘How are you both?’ she asked. ‘I suppose you’ve stopped visiting us because our fortunes are so altered …’

  ‘Holy Name!’ came the pious ejaculation. ‘Benefactors are benefactors, whether they be rich or poor. Our convent was founded by your family, and we were always most generously provided for by Her Old Ladyship. We saw Their Ladyships and the young ladies at Her Old Ladyship’s funeral, but we didn’t see you there, miss, and we were worried about you. That’s why we’ve come here specially to visit you today.’

  Xi-chun asked after the young nuns at the temple.

  ‘Ever since that scandal,’ was the reply, ‘the gatemen won’t let them so much as set foot in Rong-guo House.’

  ‘Talking of scandals,’ continued the same nun, ‘is it true, what we heard the other day, that Sister Adamantina from Green Bower Hermitage has run off with a man?’

  ‘What utter nonsense!’ replied Xi-chun. ‘People who tell such tales should beware of having their tongues cut out in hell! The poor girl was kidnapped by a gang of ruffians! How can anyone have the heart to spread such malicious gossip!’

  ‘Sister Adamantina was a strange one all the same,’ said the nun. ‘We always thought she overdid it a bit. Of course, we don’t like to criticize her in front of you, miss. Who are we when compared with her, after all? Just ordinary, unrefined people; we chant our liturgy, say our prayers, make intercession for the sins of others, and hope to earn ourselves a little merit, a little good karma.’

  ‘What does good karma really mean?’ asked Xi-chun earnestly.

  ‘Well, miss, putting aside the truly virtuous families like your own, which have nothing to fear, of course – other noble ladies and young misses of good family can never be certain how long their prosperity will last. If calamity once strikes, then nothing can save them. Nothing, that is, except Our Lady of Mercy: if Our Lady sees a mortal suffering, her infinite compassion moves her to try to guide that mortal towards salvation. That is why we all pray to her and say: “Hail, Lady of Mercy, Bodhisattva of Boundless Compassion and Grace, Deliverer, Saviour, Hail!”

  ‘A nun leads a hard life, it’s true, harder than a young lady in a rich family. But we’re saved! Even if we can’t hope to become Buddhas or Saints, at least by keeping up our devotions we may one day in another lifetime be reborn as men. And that would be sufficient reward in itself. At least then we would escape the endless trials and silent tribulations of womankind. You are still too young to understand, miss; but let me tell you, when once a young lady leaves home and marries, it is all over with her. She must spend the rest of her days a slave to her husband’s will.

  ‘In the true religious life, it is sincere devotion that counts. Sister Adamantina always thought herself so gifted and sensitive, so superior. To her we were always vulgar mortals. And yet ordinary folk like us can at least earn good simple karma, while look at this terrible thing that has befallen her.’

  Their words found an all too receptive ear. Uninhibited by the presence of her maids, Xi-chun poured out the whole story of how badly You-shi had been treating her, and how she had been made to stay and look after the house, and the disastrous consequence. She showed them where she had already hacked off a part of her hair.

  ‘You think I’m just another worldling, trapped in the fiery pit of delusion! But you’re wrong, I’ve been
wanting to be a nun for a long time myself. I just haven’t been able to think of a way of achieving my goal.’

  The nuns feigned alarm:

  ‘Now, miss, don’t you ever say such a thing again! If Mrs Zhen were to hear, she’d give us the scolding of our lives and have us thrown out of the convent. Why, a young lady like yourself, bred in such a good family, you’re sure to marry a fine young gentleman and enjoy a lifetime of luxury and ease …’

  The colour flew into Xi-chun’s cheeks:

  ‘What makes you think my sister-in-law can have you sent away, and I can’t?’

  The nuns realized from this that she was in earnest, and decided to goad her on a little further:

  ‘Don’t take offence, miss. But do you honestly believe that Their Ladyships and the young mistresses would let you have your way? You will only stir up a lot of unnecessary trouble for yourself. It’s you we’re thinking of.’

  ‘We shall see,’ was Xi-chun’s brief comment.

  Landscape thought this augured ill, and gave the nuns a meaningful glance. They took the hint, and too scared to lead Xi-chun on any further, made their farewells. Xi-chun did not detain them, but merely smiled scornfully after them and said:

  ‘Don’t imagine yours is the only convent!’

  The nuns thought it wiser not to reply.

  Landscape was worried by this latest turn of events, and fearing that she might be blamed if anything untoward occurred she crept off to inform You-shi:

  ‘Miss Xi-chun is still set on shaving her head and becoming a nun, ma’am. These past few days she’s not been ill, she’s been lying at home nursing her grievance. Perhaps it would be safer to take some precautions. If anything were to happen, we would be blamed …’