Chapters 1-40

A monk and a Daoist pick up a magic stone. Zhen Shiyin loses his house and family, and wanders off with the Daoist.

Lin Daiyu visits her relatives the Jias’, meeting the household members including matriarch Lady Jia, famed boy Jia Baoyu, who immediately upsets her. The Xue family also move in, including Baochai, whose necklace resembles Baoyu’s precious jade. Daiyu soon receives news of her father’s death, and moves in permanently.

Baoyu is shown a register of destinies in a dream. He strikes up a friendship with Qin Zhong; they are both bullied at school, making Qin’s sister ill. She dies; his father dies suddenly of shame after Qin tries to seduce a nun’s disciple, and Qin dies soon after. Meanwhile, Xifeng has cruelly led an admirer on, and he dies after a period of delerium.

Baoyu’s sister Yuanchun, an Imperial concubine, visits. A new residence and garden are constructed in her honour. Baoyu provides some of the inscriptions for the garden, which she is delighted with and names Prospect Garden.

Baoyu’s maid Aroma gets ill; he, Daiyu and Baochai develop a bickering but friendly relationship. They argue at Baochai’s birthday party; he gets drunk and composes an emotional poem, which they tease him about in the morning. On Yuanchun’s orders, Baoyu and the girls move into the Garden together, and they get closer. Baoyu and Daiyu read romances and bury flowers together by a weir, and she is upset when he spends time alone with Baochai; he notices Daiyu’s standoffishness and finds her weeping by the flowers’ grave. They work out their misunderstandings, but tensions remain.

Meanwhile, Baoyu’s half brother Huan has scalded him after he flirts with Huan’s maid. Baoyu and Xifeng suffer strange, raving illnesses, and are cured by a monk. He meets actor Jiang Yuhan at a party. Baoyu and Daiyu continue to quarrel while concealing their true emotions after Baoyu picks up a trinket for his cousin Xiangyun, and Daiyu destroys a present she has made for him. Baochai’s testiness causes the awkwardness to resurface.

Daiyu is upset to hear Baoyu bond with Aroma and Xiangyun, and Baoyu blurts out an emotional speech intended for her to Aroma. A maid who Baoyu tried to seduce has killed herself, and Jiang Yuhan goes missing. Baoyu’s father Zheng beats him senseless, stopping only after Baoyu’s mother Lady Wang makes desperate remonstrances. Aroma and Baochai tend to him; Daiyu writes a poem after he sends her some handkerchiefs, and he recuperates playing in the Garden.

Cousin Tanchun proposes a poetry club. All are enthusiastic, and arrange regular meetings after the first competition. Xiangyun and Baochai arranges a very drunken crab and cassia party and poetry competition. Country cousin Grannie Liu arrives. Baoyu sends his page in search of a temple she talks about, but he can’t find it. Grannie Liu’s rustic and uncouth ways are soundly mocked at Xiangyun’s rowdy farewell party.

Chapter 40 - supercondensed

At Xiangyun’s farewell party, Grannie Liu is soundly mocked and is the subject of an extensive practical joke, causing much mirth. They watch the actresses from punts, move to Baochai’s bare apartment, and play drinking games.

Chapter 40

史太君两宴大观园

金鸳鸯三宣鸦牌令

Baoyu arrives at Grandmother Jia’s to find them already deeply discussing the arrangements for Xiangyun’s farewell party. Baoyu suggestion of an informal party is accepted. The next morning, Li Wan supervises the arrangements, which Grannie Liu interrupts; Xifeng dresses her up, causing laughter, as does Liu’s earnestness in expressing her delight at the garden and Xichun’s painting. The ladies are touring garden: Grannie Liu slips outside the Naiad’s House causing more mirth. Daiyu serves the party tea, and Grannie Liu is impressed, thinking it a man’s study. Grandmother Jia notices the gauze on the windows is faded, and they discuss gauze materials at length. They leave Daiyu and, as the punts are out, they punt across the lake and have lunch en masse at Tanchun’s.

Xifeng and Faithful continue mocking Grannie Liu, to Li Wan’s annoyance, and they have concocted a set of practical jokes. Faithful takes Liu aside to ‘brief’ her on mealtime decorum, as she is to sit with Grandmother Jia. As the food arrives delivers a comical grace with determination and, after a moment of silence, everyone is convulsed with laughter, which only continues as she attempts to eat pigeon’s eggs with extremely heavy chopsticks. Jia has already identified Xifeng as the culprit. Later, Xifeng and Faithful apologise, but Liu is sincere in her compliments regarding the family’s breeding and etiquette. Xifeng (as a married woman) and the maids then eat, with Liu present; there is an awful lot of food left over. They move to join the others in Tanchun’s stylish apartment; Liu disciplines the ever-bolder Baner for touching everything. They hear the actresses rehearsing, and summon them to play to them from across the water. They leave, and get in the punts; Xifeng insists on punting but struggles and hands over to one of the Suzhou boatwomen they have imported. Baoyu and Daiyu discuss poetry as they all head to Allspice Court. It is extremely fragrant, but Baochai’s apartment is stark and bare and Grandmother Jia asks Faithful to supply some ornaments before berating Xifeng, even though Baochai had wanted it this way. Grandmother Jia declaims on taste and girls, and insists that Faithful supply certain objects.

They move on to a drinking party, and Grandmother Jia suggests drinking games, with Faithful as MC. Grannie Liu tries to leave, but is compelled to stay. The game involves dominoes, poetry and rhyming. Baoyu notices Daiyu using lines from ‘the Western Chamber’. They all laugh at Grannie Liu’s attempts.

Chapter 39 - supercondensed

Patience joins the drinking with gusto. Grannie Liu has arrived; she takes tea with Lady Jia and has a bath before Baoyu probes some of her anecdotes, later sending Tealeaf off in search of a place she describes. He gets angry when he can’t find it.

Chapter 39

村老老是信口开河

情哥哥偏寻根究底

Patience has come to collect some crab for Xifeng; Li Wan makes her sit and drink while an old woman takes the crabs. Xifeng sends back some more food in return, along with a jokey message for Patience. She starts drinking with gusto, and Li Wan embraces, tickles and compliments her, and the others join in. They discuss how well-matched all the maids and mistresses are in turn. Li Wan starts getting emotional, and the party breaks up for them to call on Grandmother Jia and Lady Wang. Aroma and Patience discuss the late payment of their allowances – Patience tells her about Xifeng’s financial investments and offers to lend her some, which is refused. Patience finds Grannie Liu and Baner at Xifeng’s – they have come to offer the first fruits of a good harvest to the house. Zhou Rui reports that Grandmother Jia had heard of Grannie Liu’s arrival and had asked to talk to her; Grannie Liu is reluctant, but persuaded. On the way, Patience allows a page whose mother is ill to take the day off. Grannie Liu is intimidated by all the ladies when she enters for her interview. She and Grandmother Jia talk about old age, and Liu is invited to stay longer. They take tea and chat further with Baner plays with the pages. Later, Liu is given a bath (which she puts up with) and returns to the others, telling them about country life, and embellishing some of the anecdotes somewhat. The maids report that a fire has broken out in the stables, but is under control. After a brief drama, Baoyu questions Grannie Liu on some of the finer details, to no avail – she continues her stories. Baoyu is still unsatisfied, and discusses possibilities for Xiangyun’s leaving party with Tanchun. Daiyu teases him, making everyone laugh. Afterwards, Baoyu is able to corner Grannie Liu again, and tests her inventiveness. Eventually, she makes up details about the locations of the places described, and Baoyu, wanting to investigate further, sends Tealeaf off on an errand there related to her story about a wood thief. He returns very late, having found what he was looking for, but saying the directions were completely wrong; Baoyu puts this down to Grannie Liu’s age. He’s angry, though, that Tealeaf didn’t find the beautiful wood thief in the temple but an ugly plague god, hurting his feelings. He promises Tealeaf ample rewards if he can find the place described. Baoyu is summoned by one of Grandmother Jia’s maids.

Chapter 38 - supercondensed

Xiangyun and Baochai arrange a very drunken crab and cassia party, followed by a chrysanthemum-themed poetry competition, won by Daiyu. Inspired, they continue composing poetry.

Chapter 38

林潇湘魁夺菊花诗

薛蘅芜讽和螃蟹咏

Xiangyun invites the senior ladies to a cassia viewing at the Lotus pavilion, with Baochai’s help. Grandmother Jia reflects on a childhood accident in a similar pavilion, and Xifeng teases her – Lady Jia laughs at her cheekiness. They sit with the girls and Baoyu for some tea, and Xifeng prepares the crabs, refusing to let Xiangyun look after the guests – some of the maids are invited to eat while she prepares. When Xifeng attends to them, they make her down three cups of wine and banters with Faithful. In all the bantering, Patience ends up smearing crab all over Xifeng’s face, and the jollity spreads across the tables. The party breaks up and they get on with the poetry, pinning up the titles. Daiyu is fishing, maids drinking, as they gradually divide up and all twelve poems. Li Wan declares Daiyu the winner, and they admire each other’s verse at length. Baoyu declares himself to have come last again. The party continues and, inspired, Baoyu writes a quick poem on the subject of cassias and crabs; Daiyu criticises it and writes her own. She tears it up before Baoyu praises it, declaring it worse than his. Baochai writes one, which all agree is the definitive poem on the subject of eating crabs. Patience arrives back in the garden.

Chapter 37 - supercondensed

Tanchun proposes founding a poetry club, and is flattered when all attend. They hold their first competition, name the club and arrange regular meetings. Aroma collects some gifts for Xiangyun, and Baoyu asks for her to be fetched so that she can join the club for another meeting. She stays up, bonding with Baochai.

Chapter 37

秋爽斋偶结海棠社

蘅芜院夜拟菊花题

Jia Zheng is appointed to the provinces, leaving Baoyu free in the garden. On a bored day, he encounters Tanchun’s maid Ebony 翠墨 who gives him a letter from Tanchun proposing a poetry club – he is struck by her poeticism and goes to see her. On his way he receives a letter from Jia Yun via an old lady saying that he has a rare variety of crabflower to give him – he asks them to be sent to his rooms. At Tanchun’s, all the young girls are present. Tanchun is flattered, Daiyu initially counts herself out, and Li Wan proposes herself as president. They agree all to be equals and come up with appropriate, referential and slightly mocking pennames for each other. Li Wan proposes some club rules – she, Yingchun and Xichun won’t have to write, and Li will host and be president. All assent (although with slight bitterness from Tanchun). They agree to meet twice a month, and to have one immediately. Li suggests the crab-blossom as a subject, Yingchun selects a form at random, and chooses at random the final characters of each line. They are timed by a stick of incense burning; Daiyu plays outside. After the other poems have been read, she saunters in and puts a poem down on paper – it is elegant and original, but Baochai is declared the winner, with Baoyu last. They agree to meet on the second and sixteenth of every month at Li Wan’s, who will choose the subjects and rhymes, and Tanchun suggests the name ‘Crabflower Club’ in honour of their first meeting.

Aroma takes delivery of the crabflowers, and asks the old lady to get her a cab to take some things to Xiangyun; unfortunately, Skybright has taken one of these things, an onyx saucer, to Tanchun’s. Ripple reveals that two vases are also missing, as Baoyu arranged cassias in them for Lady Jia and Lady Wang – she had gone with him, and was showered with presents. The maids tease each other, and are sent to retrieve the objects. The gifts are sent to Xiangyun via one of the old nannies.

Baoyu returns to admire the flowers and tell Aroma about the club; she tells him about the gifts, and he immediately wants to invite Xiangyun to join the club. Aroma isn’t sure, but the nanny arrives back, having told Xiangyun about the club, making her upset – Baoyu immediately asks Grandmother Jia for her to be fetched. She is eventually fetched the next afternoon, and the club meets again. Her penalty is to write a poem on the same theme as before – she writes two – and provide refreshments the next day. She stays with Baochai, and they stay up talking about the club, and Baochai reminds Xiangyun that she shouldn’t waste her money on this frivolous entertainment – she suggests throwing a crab and cassia party, after which the club can meet. They bond as sisters, and discuss modern poetry, alighting on a chrysanthemum theme for the next day’s poems’ titles, coming up with twelve titles in an order, choosing to have no set rhymes: everyone is to try as many as they want.

Chapter 36 - supercondensed

Baoyu spends his recuperation period playing idly in the garden. Xifeng rearranges Aroma’s pay, but Lady Wang rejects making her Baoyu’s chamber wife. The girls drop in to congratulate Aroma; Baoyu talks of death. Baoyu wearies of the garden, and watches Jia Qiang give Charmante a bird, which he then frees.

Chapter 36

Grandmother Jia declares that Baoyu is not to go if summoned by Jia Zheng, as he both needs rest and for astrological reasons. Baoyu is gratified, as he detests meeting scholars and visiting relations, and his recuperation period is largely spent playing in the garden with the maids and the girls, and all who try to remonstrate with him (which is all but Daiyu) give up.

绣鸳鸯梦兆绛芸轩

识分定情悟梨香院

Xifeng is receiving a large number of gifts from senior members of the domestic staff – they are all angling for their daughters to take Golden’s post. She lets the presents accumulate before talking to Lady Wang, who doesn’t need or want a new maid. But as the allowance is to be paid, she asks for it to go to Silver. They talk at length about the various maids’ pay, and cuts made by Accounts; in conclusion, Aroma is to stop being paid as one of Lady Jia’s maids, and is to be paid from Lady Wang’s allowance. They (including Aunt Xue) all admire Aroma, with Xifeng suggesting making her openly his chamber wife, rejected by Lady Wang. Xifeng leaves, and talks to some stewards’ wives. Her jocular tone leaves, and she rails aggressively (and swearily) against Lady Wang.

The rest of the group break up, and Baochai passes Green Delights on her way to see Xichun, and drops in. Baoyu is sleeping, Aroma watching over him, sewing a beautiful pinafore for him to wear, holding a fly whisk. Baochai admires it, and takes over. Daiyu has bumped into Xiangyun, and they drop in to see Aroma to congratulate her; Daiyu goggles at the domestic scene of Baoyu and Baochai, then giggles and shows Xiangyun before they leave to look for Aroma. Meanwhile, Baochai hears Baoyu cry angrily out in his sleep that he believes in the marriage of stone and flower. Aroma arrives back and is summoned by Xifeng; Baochai leaves too. When Aroma returns from her interview, Baoyu is awake, and she tells him of her unofficial promotion. She upsets him talking of leaving him, and despite her best efforts, the conversation turns to death; she is silent, and Baoyu laughs at her. He talks of scholarly and soldiers’ deaths, and of what he would consider a glorious death surrounded by the girls, before falling asleep.

The charms of the garden begin to weary Baoyu, and he goes to look for Charmante. She rejects him, saying that she is resting her voice. It transpires that Jia Qiang is out buying a bird for Charmante, and he returns to give it to her; Baoyu watches at the door with the girls. Charmante is unimpressed, unlike the others, and miserable at being locked up. Qiang frees the bird and stamps on the cage; Charmante cries to speak of her lot and illness. Baoyu is absorbed to understand the meaning of her ‘qiang’s, and slips away quietly. When he arrives back, he again speaks of death with a sigh. Daiyu changes the conversation to Aunt Xue’s birthday the next day; Baoyu says he won’t go, and Daiyu mocks him about the earlier domestic scene – he is disgusted to hear of it, and will go to the party. Xiangyun arrives to say goodbye, and Baochai soon to see her off with Daiyu and Baoyu. They assure her that they will remind Lady Jia of her so that she can return.

Chapter 35 - supercondensed

Pan makes a clumsy apology. All visit Baoyu; all have soup, which he tricks sullen Silver into drinking; the soup is later knocked over his hand, but he doesn’t notice. He sits and talks with Oriole, who is knotting for him, and Baochai. Lady Xing sends him some fruit, some of which he asks to be taken to Daiyu.

Chapter 35

白玉钏亲尝莲叶羹

黄金莺巧结梅花络

Daiyu watches the other ladies of the household visit Green Delights, and reflects on her loneliness. She returns to take her medicine, and is amused by her parrot reciting poetry.

Baochai goes to Aunt Xue’s early, and they weep over last night’s events; Xue Pan arrives, bowing and wringing his hands in contrition. After a clumsy apology, he declares that he will give up drinking, and cries; he volunteers to treat Baochai to new clothes or a re-gilding of her locket, to no avail. Aunt Xue and Baochai go to join the women seeing Baoyu; he asks for lotus leaf soup, which Grandmother Jia orders to be made up, despite Xifeng claiming it to be of low taste. Some fuss is made over finding the right moulds for the lotuses, and Xifeng orders soup for everyone. All are impressed with Xifeng’s gift of the gab, and they discuss the household ladies. Grandmother Jia declares that Aunt Xue and Baochai are her favourites, despite Baoyu angling for Daiyu. Baoyu asks Baochai to get Oriole to do some knotting for him. Grandmother Jia then leaves, and invites the girls to eat the soup with her in her rooms. The maid Silver 玉钏 brings the soup, and is asked to take a bowl to Baoyu, along with other things, and Oriole helps her with an old woman. When they arrive, Oriole refuses to sit, and Baoyu focuses all his attention on Silver, who is Golden’s sister, out of shame. Silver is very sullen, making conversation with Baoyu and taking his orders strained. He tricks her into drinking from the same bowl by pretending not to like it. She then refuses to give it back. Two old nannies of Fu Shi 傅试, one of Zheng’s protégées, arrive (they are allowed entry because, although he disliked both the old women and Fu, his sister Qiufang 傅秋芳 was a great beauty, very intelligent and unbetrothed, and civil servant Fu was pushing for a matrimonial alliance with an aristocratic family).  Whilst entertaining the guests, Baoyu and Silver accidentally knock the soup over his hand; he doesn’t notice the pain, and asks Silver how she is, causing amusement. The old ladies gossip about him as they leave.

Baoyu asks Oriole to do the knotting, specifying colour, pattern and type. Aroma leaves, and while Oriole knots he chats with her, much enjoying it. They chat about Baochai, at which point she arrives. She suggests that Oriole make a necklet for him, which he had intended to do but had forgotten. Baoyu shouts for Aroma to get some gold thread, at which point she enters, having been given several plates of food especially for her, and feeling quite embarrassed about it; Baochai makes a pointed comment. Baochai leaves; two maids of Lady Xing’s arrive with fruit and invite him over. He cannot yet walk, so invites them to sit; he asks Ripple to take some fruit to Daiyu, before hearing her outside and inviting her in.

Chapter 34 - supercondensed

Baochai and Aroma tend to Baoyu, discussing what could have caused the beating. Later, he is woken by Daiyu’s sobbing. An emotional Lady Wang gives Aroma some medicine for him, and is greatly moved by her solicitude. Daiyu is inspired to write a poem after Baoyu sends her some handkerchiefs. Pan causes a great scene at the Xues’, telling them about Jiang Yuhan’s present and upsetting Baochai.

Chapter 34

情中情因情感妹妹

错里错以错劝哥哥

When Aroma is finally left alone with Baoyu, she asks what happened and checks his wounds. He does not answer in full. Baochai arrives with some medicine and overexposures the depth of her feeling for him when telling him how upset everyone is. Baoyu, who is fairly dismissive of the beating, finds their concern attractive, and considers that it would be worth dying just to find out how they would react. He hears Baochai asking Aroma what set Zheng off; she retells her and Tealeaf’s conclusion. He interrupts before she can mention Xue Pan – Baochai senses this is out of respect for her, and marvels at his considerateness, but talks at length about her brother’s failings of character (while not acknowledging any deviousness). Aroma is embarrassed, Baoyu impressed. Baochai leaves, with Aroma full of gratitude for her kindness. His maids leave and, despite the pain, Baoyu drifts off - dreaming of Golden – and he is woken by Daiyu sobbing. He tells her she ought not to have come, and that his injuries are a sham to guilt his father. She struggles to say all that is in her heart, just supposes that he’ll change, which he denies. When Xifeng arrives, she hurries away, not wanting to have her tears mocked again. Aunt Xue also visits and some soup is sent, but he is asleep by the time a large group of other women come to see him.

Lady Wang summons a member of Baoyu’s staff, and is disappointed when Aroma arrives – she should be looking after him. Aroma reports about how he is doing, and Lady Wang gives her two precious bottles of essence for him to take. Just as she is leaving, they begin to discuss the possible reasons for the beating – Aroma denies knowledge of any reason other than the actor. They do, however, agree that he needed the beating, and Lady Wang again becomes tearful to think of Zhu, Baoyu’s wayward character and the shame it will bring on her if it continues. Aroma agrees – she and the maids are also worried, and try to change him with no effect. With a great degree of courage, Aroma asks if Baoyu could be moved out of the garden – she is concerned about his spending so much time with girls, particularly as they are getting older, and she worries about potential scandal. With the Golden case, Lady Wang is taken aback at this and is full of love and gratitude for Aroma’s solicitude – she places Baoyu entirely at her care.

On return, Baoyu sends her to Baochai so that he can send Skybright to ask after Daiyu, sending her away with some old handkerchiefs to give her as pretence. Daiyu understands the meaning of this, and is overjoyed that, even in his pain, he thinks of her and understands her, but is nevertheless sad to think of her own pain. She is inspired to write a poem, and looks in the mirror to find herself flushed, little imagining it to be the start of a serious illness.

Aroma is waiting at Baochai’s, but she is out at her mother’s. What started life as Tealeaf’s guesswork regarding Xue Pan’s involvement had grown into a certainty that all knew, and when he goes to Aunt Xue’s she rebukes him. Baochai tries to mediate, but also tells Pan off for his misdemeanours. Pan is exasperated at this, and mouths off about Baoyu and his special treatment, threatening to kill him, and causing a great scene. He tells them about Bijou giving Baoyu his sash, which to the Xues only confirms Tealeaf’s conjecture. Pan, realising that Baochai has reason on her side, accuses her of sticking up for Baoyu because of his jade matching her locket. She is injured and cries; Pan leaves in a sulk. The next morning she passes Daiyu on her way to her mother’s – Daiyu sarcastically calls after her, telling her not to cry so much and make herself so ill.

Chapter 33 - supercondensed

Baoyu is questioned after Jiang Yuhan goes missing, infuriating Zheng. After Huan tells Zheng that Golden killed herself after Baoyu raped her, Zheng beats Baoyu senseless, only stopping after Lady Wang’s desperate remonstrances cause him to break down. Lady Wang wails to think of her deceased first son, and Lady Jia rebukes Zheng.

Chapter 33

手足眈眈小动唇舌

不肖种种大承笞挞

Lady Wang gives Golden’s mother the dresses and jewellery. Baoyu, who is moping after having been rebuked by his mother regarding Golden, is castigated by his father – he cannot reply. The Prince of Zhongshun’s chamberlain arrives to see Jia Zheng, looking for the actor Bijou who has gone missing – he understands that he has been spending time with Baoyu. Baoyu is summoned, and begs ignorance, saying that the chamberlain must have been misinformed. The chamberlain asks after the provenance of his red cummerbund; he tells the chamberlain that Bijou has recently bought a villa in Fort Redwood, and he goes to look for him there. Jia Zheng is furious. While escorting the chamberlain out, he sees Jia Huan running, and is furious with him; this is exacerbated when Huan says that it is because he saw the drowned girl’s body. This is the first Zheng has heard about Golden – he feels disgraced and summons Lai Da and Jia Lian. Jia Huan tells Zheng that Baoyu tried to rape Golden, beating her when she refused, and she killed herself. Zheng is seething, causing his literary guests to leave quickly, and summons Baoyu, rope, and heavy bamboo. Baoyu, waiting for his return, tried that he is to be beaten over Bijou via a passing old woman, but she proved to be near-deaf. He is fetched by Zheng’s pages before he can pass on the message. On arrival, Zheng orders the pages to gag him and beat him to death. When the pages don’t beat hard enough, Zheng takes over. The literary gentlemen return to remonstrate, with no luck, but they send word to Lady Wang. When she arrives, Zheng’s beating redoubled, with Baoyu seemingly unconscious. A tearful Lady Wang appeals to him, saying that no doubt he deserved it, but Zheng shouldn’t get so excited, and that Grandmother Jia would be inconsolable if Baoyu died. Zheng objects – he considers himself unfilial by having produced such a monster, and is constantly thwarted in his attempts to discipline him – he picks up the rope to finish Baoyu off. Lady Wang stops him – she is nearly fifty, and he is her only son. By killing him, he would be rendering her childless, so she asks to be killed first. Zheng collapses, weeping. When examining Baoyu’s lifeless body, she recalls her first son Zhu 贾珠, now deceased, causing his widow, Li Wan 李纨 – who has arrived with the other girls hearing of the commotion – to break down. Grandmother Jia arrives, rebuking Zheng for being a bad son, and calling a carriage to take her, Lady Wang and Baoyu to Nanjing. Baoyu is carried out (with Lady Wang wailing about Zhu, now wishing Baoyu had died in his stead, and rebuking a now softened Zheng for going too far) and taken to Green Delights, while Aroma and Tealeaf discuss what could have happened, including the rumour that Jia Huan revealed to Zheng about Golden and that Xue Pan must have let it be known about Bijou.

Chapter 32 - supercondensed

Xiangyun, Aroma and Baoyu bond together, upsetting an eavesdropping Daiyu. She argues with Baoyu, but is momentarily shocked by his insightfulness. Baoyu blurts out to Aroma an impassioned speech intended for Daiyu. Golden has killed herself, and Lady Wang feels responsible.

Chapter 32

诉肺腑心迷活宝钗

含耻辱情烈死金钏

Baoyu is delighted; Aroma congratulates Xiangyun on her engagement, but she is bashful. She and Aroma reminisce, laughing and embarrassing each other. Aroma is touched by Xiangyun’s present, although Baoyu had already given her one of his. Xiangyun is reminded of her orphan status and wells up. Aroma asks for a favour of Xiangyun, to finish sewing some slippers; Xiangyun infers that they are for Baoyu and agrees on the condition that they are for Aroma to wear. The conversation awkwardly turns to Daiyu when a servant enters calling for Baoyu to meet the newly arrived Jia Yucun. Baoyu is irritated, and Xiangyun irritates him further by saying he should be spending more time in such company, not with girls. Aroma uses her experiences to dissuade her from trying to reason with him.

Daiyu has surmised that Baoyu intends to use the qilin to break with her and romance with Xiangyun; she has snuck over to Green Delights and overheard the conversation about her. She has mixed feelings about this, and walks away weeping, when Baoyu catches up with her. They argue, Daiyu bringing up the lost qilin, but Baoyu shocks her by saying something so insightful, seemingly reading her mind. They stare at each other in silence, before she hurries off, again crying. He runs after her, but she turns again and leaves. Meanwhile, Aroma has hurried out as Baoyu had forgotten his fan; when she sees them together, she halts. She approaches after Daiyu leaves, and addresses Baoyu; he, however, blurts out an impassioned speech intended for Daiyu. Shaken out of his trance, he flees in embarrassment.

Aroma later realises that Baoyu’s words were intended for Daiyu, and broods on their potentially scandalous situation. Baochai asks her what she’s thinking about, she jokes in response. They discuss Baoyu’s visitor, and Baochai says how lonely Xiangyun must be at her home, making Aroma remorseful about her earlier request. Baochai volunteers to help, when an old woman rushes up and tells them that Golden, who had just been dismissed, has drowned herself in the well. She had been like a sister to Aroma, who weeps. Baochai heads to Lady Wang’s to offer sympathy; they briefly discuss Baoyu before talking about Golden. Lady Wang feels responsible, telling Baochai she was dismissed for breaking something of hers. Baochai believes it must have been an accident, but suggests helping with the funeral. Lady Wang has given her family some money, and had wanted to give some clothes too but the only ones suitable were Daiyu’s, and she didn’t want to upset her superstitious nature, so has had a tailor make some up. She cries to think how much like a daughter Golden had been. Baochai offers two of her dresses, and fetches them; on returning, she finds Lady Wang rebuking a weeping Baoyu about something. Lady Wang summons Golden’s mother.

Chapter 31 - supercondensed

Tensions break up the double fifth party. Quarrels start and resolve at Baoyu’s, where Daiyu and Aroma and later Baoyu and Skybright bond closely. Xiangyun arrives; after discussing nature and yin-yang, Xiangyun picks up the qilin Baoyu had intended to give her, which he cannot find.

Chapter 31

撕扇子作千金一笑

因麒麟伏白首双星

Aroma persuades Baoyu not to send for help immediately; the next day he consults a doctor who offers perfunctory service on discovering the cause was a blow.

Lady Wang gives a party for the double fifth festival, but it breaks up quickly due to various tensions. Daiyu, unlike the others, was unaffected by this due to her own disposition, while Baoyu was particularly gloomy, lashing out at Skybright who shouts back at him. Aroma enters, inflaming Skybright’s jealousy and exacerbating the scene. Baoyu concludes that Skybright is agitating to leave, and determines to see Lady Wang – Aroma begs him not to, and all weep. Daiyu enters and makes a joke, and they laugh. Daiyu leaves after a quick chat, during which she and Aroma bond as sisters and Baoyu declares for the second time that he would grieve for her by becoming a monk. Baoyu is invited out to drink with Xue Pan, and returns later drunk. He finds Skybright and teases her about the earlier incident before proposing that they bathe together. Instead, he asks for some fruit, and declares that things exist for our use, but the manner of usage is down to personal taste. As a result, he gives her his fan to tear, and they laugh; they take Musk’s fan and tear it, and are scolded.

Shi Xiangyun arrives, and the girls are all affectionate. After she disrobes due to the heat, the girls discuss Xiangyun’s tomboyishness with Grandmother Jia, leading to gossip that someone had been round to discuss a marriage proposal. Baoyu enters; Xiangyun shows him a present for Aroma of agate rings, the same that she had sent to the girls by messenger earlier. She explains her reasons, leading to Daiyu sarcastically referring to the gold qilin – only Baochai hears. She visits other married cousins before heading to see Aroma with Kingfisher. They discuss nature, and yin-yang. Kingfisher asks why yin-yang exists in nature but not humans, before making Xiangyun laugh by saying that she is yang. Xiangyun spots a glittering object and tells Kingfisher to fetch – it is a qilin, like hers. Her reverie is interrupted by Baoyu, who accompanies them to Green Delights. When there, Baoyu declares that he has a present for her, then can’t find it. He says it’s a qilin, then Xiangyun reveals what she picked up.

Chapter 30 - supercondensed

Baoyu upsets Daiyu while trying to make amends. Tensions are eased when Xifeng takes them to Lady Jia, but awkwardness soon resurfaces with a testy Baochai.  Baoyu attempts to seduce Golden, who is then dismissed by Lady Wang. He then admires Charmante writing a character in the ground. After finding himself locked out, he lashes out, kicking Aroma.

Chapter 30

宝钗借扇机带双敲
椿龄画蔷痴及局外

While Nightingale and Daiyu are discussing the incident, Baoyu arrives. He enters to make things up, but she is still emotional and tells him to act as if she were dead, leading to his further upsetting her by declaring that he’d become a monk. He continues trying to placate her to no avail, when Xifeng arrives, sent by Grandmother Jia to check on them. She drags them to Grannie Jia, and reports what she saw – all laugh. Baoyu turns to apologise to Baochai for not being at Pan’s birthday. He compares her physically to Yang Guifei, angering her. A maid comes looking for a fan and Baochai shouts at her; the exchange gives Daiyu secret, but visible, satisfaction, so Baochai treats her innocent question with some malice. All are uncomfortable, and Xifeng comments as such. When Xifeng and Baochai leave, Daiyu sets upon Baoyu about Baochai’s testiness – he is in very low spirits now. He drops in to see Lady Wang, and attempts to seduce a sleeping Golden 金钏. Lady Wang hears this and in anger sends her away.

Walking in the garden, Baoyu hears someone weeping and thinks that a maid is imitating Daiyu’s burial of flowers (he is reminded of the story of Xishi). Before he castigates them, he sees that it is Charmante. He watches and admires her as she writes a character (qiang) in the ground several dozen times. It starts suddenly raining and, fearing for her constitution, he emerges and tells her to stop writing, before rushing off himself. When Baoyu arrives back, two soubrettes are with Aroma, playing with ducks. The gate is locked, and the maids don’t recognise who he is as he is back so soon. When he is finally let in, he lashes out, kicking Aroma; she pretends he missed when he realises who it was that he lashed out at. Later, she notices how large the bruise is, and can’t sleep well; in the morning she feels giddy and finds herself spitting blood.

Chapter 29 - supercondensed

All visit a Daoist temple for to watch ceremonial plays, where the Abbot inspects Baoyu. The monks give small jade presents, including a qilin like Xiangyun’s which Baoyu pockets, noticed by Daiyu. They quarrel again, both try to concealing their true, and reciprocal, emotions. Their maids admonish them, and Daiyu cuts the cord she has made for the jade. Neither attends Pan’s birthday party.

Chapter 29

享福人福深还祷福

多情女情重愚斟情

Xifeng invites Baoyu, Daiyu and Baochai to the Daoist temple to watch ceremonial plays; Grandmother Jia volunteers to go along and invites anyone else who wants to join. All are excited, and everyone declares their interest. As the procession arrives, Xifeng – hurrying to help Grannie Jia out of her sedan – runs into a young acolyte. He is fearful, and brought towards Grannie, who is kind to him. With so many people, and in the heat, things are confused; in a fit of rage, Cousin Zhen asks someone to spit at an idle Jia Rong. Abbot Zhang 张道士 pays his respects to Grandmother Jia, and greets Baoyu, complementing his poetry and calligraphy and tearfully noting his resemblance to old Sir Jia. He suggests finding a match for him; Grandmother Jia remembers the monk who predicted his fortune would lie in not marrying young, but allows him to make inquiries. The Abbot gives Xifeng an overdue amulet for her baby, and takes the Jade for inspection; the monks give small jade presents to show their appreciation. The Abbot doesn’t let Baoyu give them to the poor.

The plays start – ‘the white serpent’, ‘a heap of honours’, and ‘the south branch’. Grandmother Jia inspects the trinkets, and sees a familiar looking qilin. Baochai remembers that Shi Xiangyun has one like it (leading to snide comments about her selective observation skills from Daiyu). Baoyu pockets it, but Daiyu notices, embarrassing him, and she doesn't buy his excuse. More and more representatives and offerings arrive, Grannie Jia begins to regret coming. The Abbot’s proposal leaves Baoyu in an extremely bad temper.

Daiyu has sunstroke, concerning Baoyu, but he finds it’s not as bad as feared. He is led to anger by her indifference to his problems, and accuses her of actively willing his death, thanks to his oath to heaven sworn the previous day. She is ashamed. Both are concealing their real feelings – in truth they are of one mind, but the complicated procedures through which they are trying to come together are having the opposite effect. Baoyu tries to dash his jade on the floor, to no avail. Hearing the quarrel, the maids fetch Aroma, who admonishes him – Daiyu is moved that she understands her so well, and she vomits heavily – including her medicine - from her emotion. She is in turn admonished by Nightingale, and Baoyu is moved that Nightingale should understand him so well. They both cry, Aroma embraces Baoyu, and she and Nightingale cry too. Daiyu snatches the jade and cuts the cord she made for it. They do not notice Grandmother Jia and Lady Wang, who have arrived having heard about the commotion. Neither Baoyu or Daiyu admit that anything is wrong, and the maids are given a dressing down. Neither turns up to Xue Pan’s birthday party the next day – at which Grandmother Jia had hoped they would make it up – and the day after, Aroma urges a settlement by the Double Fifth festival. In reality, the differences between them have vanished.

Chapter 28 - supercondensed

Baoyu is moved, and he and Daiyu work out their misunderstandings, although she is soon standoffish again. Baoyu plays a drinking game at Feng Ziying’s, where he meets Jiang Yuhan, who gives him a cummerbund which he passes on to Aroma. Tensions between Daiyu and Baochai regarding Baoyu’s affections resurface.

Chapter 28

蒋玉函情赠茜香罗

薛宝钗羞笼红麝串

It is Daiyu weeping (again). One of the lyrics she is reciting refers to a maiden’s death, and this sets Baoyu off too, as a considers a world without Daiyu and the girls. She notices him, and walks away ignoring him. He chases after her, and reminds her of when she first arrived, and how close they were. They work out that the earlier misunderstanding was just the maids’ faults. Lady Wang approaches and asks after Daiyu’s health; they discuss her medicines. She doesn’t believe some of the expensive ingredients he lists; Baochai and Daiyu won’t lie for him, but Xifeng corroborates his story.

When Baoyu is walking to Grandmother Jia’s, Xifeng calls him over and lists some items for him to write down. He assents to her taking Crimson. At Grandmother Jia’s, Daiyu resumes acting standoffish to him.

Baoyu is invited to Feng Ziying’s, where he drinks with Xue Pan, singer Nuageuse 云儿 and others. Baoyu leads them all in a rhyming drinking game – Xue Pan keeps coming up with nonsense or filth. Drag actor Jiang Yuhan 蒋玉菡 is embarrassed after he happens to use a line of poetry referring to Aroma. Baoyu invites him round, and discovers that he is Bijou 琪官, an actor that he’s been hearing about. Jiang gives him his cummerbund, which had been given to him by the Prince of Beijing; Baoyu gives him a sash in return, which he later remembers is Aroma’s, when she notices its absence. He persuades her to take the cummerbund. Presents have arrived for the Double Fifth festival from Yuanchun, and Aroma tells Baoyu who has received what, which they discuss – Baochai is the only girl to receive the same level as Baoyu.

Baoyu bumps into Daiyu, who has forgotten her resentments; nevertheless, she makes cracks about her status and how Baochai has usurped her in his affections. Baochai arrives and is embarrassed; Baoyu asks to have a look at one of her medicine chaplets. He admires her arm, and thinks of the matching gold and jade talismans, of which Baochai is also well aware. He gawps at her; Baochai walks away in embarrassment, and Daiyu mocks him.

Chapter 27 - supercondensed

The girls give offerings to the flower spirits; Daiyu is still unhappy, and Baochai overhears Crimson talking about Yun. Crimson impresses Xifeng. Baoyu angers Tanchun; he notices Daiyu’s standoffishness and then her absence, and goes to her flowers’ grave, where he hears her weeping.

Chapter 27

滴翠亭杨妃戏彩蝶

埋香冢飞燕泣残红

Daiyu cries herself to sleep – her maids have long given up trying to comfort her. A festival is due, on which day offerings are given to the flower spirits, whose work is finished for the year. The girls have prepared offerings, and all but Daiyu are enjoying themselves. Baochai goes to get her, but halts when she sees Baoyu entering the Naiad’s House. Instead she follows some butterflies, and overhears Crimson and Trinket, who has returned her handkerchief and wants a reward to take to Yun. To save an awkward scene, Baochai pretends to believe Daiyu is in that pavilion, and calls out to her, unintentionally scaring the maids that Daiyu was hiding listening to them.

Crimson is sent away by Xifeng for a task, but on returning with a message she can’t find her; she asks other maids where she is, further irritating them. When she does find Xifeng, she is very impressed with Crimson’s intelligence and compliments her. Xifeng suggests that she work for her and be her goddaughter; Crimson laughs, as her mother is already Xifeng’s goddaughter. She decides to talk to Baoyu the next morning.

Baoyu is nonplussed when Daiyu ignores him. Tanchun gives Baoyu some money to get her something nice for her room next time he’s out shopping. Tanchun is angered by Baoyu’s anecdote about Aunt Zhao’s reaction to her embroidered slippers, and further by Baoyu taking her side. Baoyu notices Daiyu’s absence, and concludes that she must be upset as she is neglecting her flowers. He makes his way to her flowers’ grave, and overhears someone weeping and reciting a poem – he assumes it’s a maid.

Chapter 26 - supercondensed

Crimson and Yun’s eyes meet on a bridge, and he asks about her at Baoyu’s. Baoyu spends the day idling; Daiyu weeps when she is not let into his rooms and hears Baochai in there.

Chapter 26

蜂腰桥设言传心事

潇湘馆春困发幽情

Baoyu has recovered, and his burns are healed. Meanwhile, Crimson notices Jia Yun carries a handkerchief much like the one she lost. She gossips about Baoyu, Aroma and the household with a younger maid, Melilot 佳蕙. She learns from Nanny Li that Baoyu has asked for Yun to see him; Trinket 坠儿 is sent to escort him in, and his eyes meet Crimson’s on Wasp Waist Bridge.

Yun enters Green Delights, and Baoyu apologises for missing their last meeting. They chat, and Yun protests at Aroma serving him – a servant - tea. He dawdles back with Trinket, asking her a lot of personal questions, including about Crimson. He mentions the handkerchief, which he gives her to give to Crimson.

Baoyu is bored and lethargic, but Aroma persuades him to go out instead of sleeping. He finds Jia Lan 贾兰 hunting, and disturbs Daiyu quoting from ‘the Western Chamber’; she claims to have been asleep. He presses her, leading to tears. He apologises, but is called by Aroma as Zheng wants him. It turns out to be a deceit by Xue Pan and Tealeaf; Baoyu is angry, but it is because Pan has been given food for his coming birthday and wants to share it. Pan announces that he wants dirty pictures for his birthday. Feng Ziying 冯紫英, son of a general, arrives; Baoyu gets pleasingly drunk, and arrives back to find Aroma still anxious about his meeting, and discusses the food with Baochai.

Daiyu goes to Green Delights, and Skybright, not recognising her voice, doesn’t let her in, apparently on Baoyu’s orders. She weeps for being such an outsider. She hears Baoyu and Baochai’s voices, and continues to lament her situation. A door opens, and someone comes out.

Chapter 25 - supercondensed

Jia Huan scalds Baoyu with a candle after he flirts with his maid Sunset. Baoyu and Xifeng start to suffer mad fits of fever until their deaths are feared. A monk and a Daoist offer to cure them, using the jade.

Chapter 25

餍魔发叔嫂逢五鬼

通灵玉蒙蔽遇双真

It turns out Crimson dreamed that last bit. She had made a deep impression on Baoyu though, but seeing Jia Yun at work, she broods. Aunt Xue and some of the cousins go to her brother Wang Ziteng’s lady’s birthday, returning late. Meanwhile, Jia Huan is studying; the maids don’t like him, but Sunset 彩霞 advises him not to throw his weight about so much, angering Huan. Baoyu arrives back drunk, and flirts with Sunset, angering Huan even more, who feigns an accident, knocking a candle over him. Lady Wang rebukes him and his mother, Aunt Zhao. Daiyu hurries round to see him when he’s back in his room, badly scalded.  Baoyu plays it down, and tells Grandmother Jia that he did it.

Baoyu’s godmother, Mother Ma 马道婆, suggests it’s the fault of imps, and that they should increase their prayers and alms; Grandmother Jia gives the necessary orders. She also visits the other apartments; Aunt Zhao reveals to her her hatred of Xifeng, Mother Ma promises aid for money.

Daiyu joins the others for a small tea party at Green Delights, and flees when teased by Xifeng. The others are called away, and Baoyu calls Daiyu back. He holds her hand before leaping about like a mad man and trying to kill himself several times before other people arrive on the scene. News spreads, and a babbling Xifeng appears with a knife, but is carried away. Even Zheng and Xue Pan are concerned, and everyone expresses an opinion on what should be done to expel the malignant spirits. Their fevers continue for days, and they are soon lying almost motionless. When Baoyu wakes, he volunteers to ‘leave’. Coffins have been ordered by someone. A monk and a Daoist are chanting outside; they tell Zheng that the jade can cure them, but the monk needs to say a prayer over it to restore its power. He is to hang it over the threshold and allow no women other than mother and grandmother in, and Baoyu is to recover in 33 days. Baochai makes a joke about Buddha which offends Daiyu.

Chapter 24 - supercondensed

Relative Jia Yun is given a job in the household after buying Xifeng a present using a loan from the Drunken Diamond. Crimson is teased after helping Baoyu opportunistically, and dreams that she has a physical misunderstanding with Yun.

Chapter 24

醉金刚轻财尚义侠 

痴女儿遗帕惹相思

 

Daiyu is disturbed by Caltrop – Nightingale is looking for her, as Xifeng has sent her a present. She returns to the Naiad’s House.

Baoyu returns to find himself summoned by Grandmother Jia to check on She’s illness; while changing he throws himself on her maid Faithful 鸳鸯. He leaves, bumping into Jia Lian with Jia Yun 贾芸, a relative who Lian has promised a job for. He looks in on She, and then goes to see Lady Xing; she demonstrates her preference for him over Huan and asks him to stay to eat with the girls.

Jia Yun learns from Lian that the most recent job went to Jia Qin. He is irritated, and goes to his uncle’s perfumery for help; he receives none as his uncle doesn’t trust his credit. A local loan shark, Ni Er 倪二, known as the Drunken Diamond 醉金, offers him a generous deal. The next day he buys some camphor and musk and, after an elaborate tale, gives it to a delighted Xifeng. She mentions a job, but doesn’t say he has it. He goes to see Baoyu, who had half-heartedly invited him; he isn’t in (he’s at the Prince of Beijing’s place). He bumps into Xifeng again, who tells him with some malice that she’s worked out the reason for his visit, but gives him the job. He is delighted, and pays Ni Er back with the money he receives.

Baoyu calls his maids, but none are around, only a girl who had been there when Yun was, who Baoyu has never seen before; she turns out to be Crimson 小红, who was assigned to his house and had lost her handkerchief. Ripple 秋纹 and Emerald 碧痕, fetching water, find her and shout at her for opportunistically serving Baoyu. She is resentful. An old woman arrives with notice that Yun is to start work there the next day; she feels a flutter at his name. Later, Yun finds Crimson, having found her handkerchief, leading to a physical misunderstanding between them.

Chapter 23 - supercondensed

Yuanchun sends an edict that the girls and Baoyu are to move into the garden. Baoyu drifts from blissful happiness to artistic ennui. Baoyu introduces Daiyu to ‘the Western Chamber’ by a weir before they bury flowers together.

Chapter 23

西厢记妙词通戏语

牡丹亭艳曲警芳心

After Yuanchun’s visit, Tanchun compiles a copy of the poems for her and work begins on the inscriptions around the garden. Jia Zheng considered dispersing the twenty four nuns around the city, but the wife of a poor relation persuades Xifeng to keep them and let her son Jia Qin 贾芹 act as housekeeper.

Yuanchun feels certain that the garden is now shut up out of respect, and feels this is a shame, given its beauty and the girls’ talents. She sends an edict that the girls are to live there, and Baoyu is to study there. He is extremely excited by this. He is summoned by Zheng and reluctant to go; he dawdles and is teased by maids. Zheng thinks how important Baoyu is to Lady Wang, and tells him that the purpose of his moving to the garden is to keep him closer to his studies; constant amusement is making him an idle dullard. He talks with his parents, and Zheng expresses dislike of Aroma’s name.

Baoyu discusses where they want to live in the garden with Daiyu; she wants the Naiad’s House, he the House of Green Delights. A message arrives for Grandmother Jia from Zheng detailing the arrangements for the move; they all move in.

Baoyu is blissfully happy in the garden, and writes some (indifferent) poetry to that effect, applauded by all. He receives requests for more. He suddenly finds himself discontent, plagued by an artistic ennui that the girls can’t understand. Tealeaf buys a pile of books for him, but tells him not to take them into the garden or he’ll be in trouble; Baoyu is delighted, and unwilling to comply with Tealeaf’s request. He is reading ‘Western Chamber’ by a weir, covered in petals, when Daiyu arrives. She tells him not to brush the petals into the weir – she has a grave for flowers – and spots his book. She reads a bit and loves it, before getting angry at a remark of his, accusing him of taking advantage of her. This turns to mirth, and they bury the flowers. Baoyu leaves; Daiyu is lonely and walks past where the actresses are rehearsing. She is moved to tears by their poetry, thinking of ‘Western Chamber’ and other works.

Chapter 22 - supercondensed

The girls argue again at Baochai’s birthday party, where the drink and the music cause Baoyu to have an emotional epiphany. He composes a few lines, which the girls find in the morning and tease him about. After Yuanchun sends a lantern riddle, Lady Jia holds a riddle party.

Chapter 22

听曲文宝玉悟禅机

制灯谜贾政悲谶语

Xifeng returned to discuss Baochai’s 15^th birthday with Lian, he tells her to do the same as she did for Daiyu and storms off, telling her to stop snooping.

Xiangyun is persuaded to stay for Baochai’s birthday. Xifeng banters with Grannie Jia that if she wants plays, she’ll have to pay for them. A troupe of child actors trained to perform Kunqu and Yiqiang are engaged, and each guest chooses a play. Baoyu criticises Baochai’s choices, leading to a debate, resulting in his praising her knowledge. One of the child actors’ make-up reminds everyone of Daiyu; Xiangyun comments on this, causing offence to Daiyu, and Xiangyun strops, asking her maid Kingfisher 翠缕 to pack so they can leave. Baoyu looks for Daiyu, who is angry with him as well – both girls think the problem derives from the other’s higher status. Baoyu is reminded of a passage of Zhuangzi and realises the futility of arguing and leaves, angering her further. When Aroma tries to cheer him, he ponders an aria, first weeping, then composing several lines before sleeping, liberated. Daiyu finds the lines, shows them to Xiangyun and Baochai before tearing it up. All the girls laugh, then confront him about it, mocking his composition with greater intelligence and knowledge – Baoyu realises he can’t have reached enlightenment, and laughs, saying it was only a joke.

Yuanchun has sent round a lantern riddle; everyone is to guess, writing down their answer and sending it to her with a new riddle. It is easy, although they praise it, and everyone but Yingchun and Huan get it right. Huan is put out. Inspired, Grandmother Jia holds a riddle party. Zheng’s presence makes everyone less talkative than usual; he realises this when Grandmother Jia attempts to send him off. He can stay if he takes part in the riddles, which he does, offering one and guessing everyone else’s, which are written on lanterns. All the girls’ lanterns, however, are full of references to grief and loss, making him gloomy. He leaves after a couple more drinks. The party continues before they all go to bed.

Chapter 21 - supercondensed

The four make peace the next morning, although Aroma and Baoyu argue over his excessive frolicking. He writes a pastiche of Zhuangzi when drunk, which Daiyu finds. Patience discovers one of Lian’s infidelities, and he argues with Xifeng.

Chapter 21

贤袭人娇嗔箴宝玉

俏平儿软语救贾琏

Baochai attempts to make peace, but the four remain at an impasse until they are summoned for dinner. The next morning, Baoyu arrives at Daiyu and Xiangyun’s room while they are still sleeping. Xiangyun plaits his hair, noting a lost pearl clip, and rebukes him for being about to eat some rouge.

Baochai drops in to see Baoyu, and is impressed by Aroma’s intelligent response to his absence. They chat, and Baochai leaves when he returns. Aroma is upset with him for excessive frolicking with his cousins, putting him at a loss at what to do. He pretends to sleep and they argue further until he is summoned for lunch. He then refuses to use his normal maids, renaming Citronella 蕙香 ‘Number Four’ 四儿. Drunk, he writes a pastiche of Zhuangzi about his maids and cousins, and wakes up having forgotten his mood. By ignoring him, Aroma drives the lesson home. When he is out, Daiyu stumbles across his pastiche and composes a short poem.

Xifeng’s baby daughter is ill, and they prepare her room for prayers to the smallpox goddess, amongst other arrangements. This includes abstinence for the parents, frustrating Lian, who turns his attention to a chef’s wife known as the Mattress 多姑娘. Before long the smallpox clears and he returns to Xifeng with redoubled affection. Patience discovers a lock of the Mattress’ hair; Lian tries to grab it as Xifeng enters, so he entreats her not to tell. Xifeng presses Patience about his possessions, joking about his infidelity, but Patience says nothing about the hair. Lian snatches it back, making Patience angry; he responds by trying to grab her, but she refuses to yield. Lian is angry about Xifeng watching him while she talks to other men; Patience thinks Xifeng has every right to. Xifeng returns, Patience storms off, leaving affairs awkward. 

Chapter 20 - supercondensed

Aroma argues with one of Baoyu’s nannies, and gets more ill. Jia Huan reveals the chip on his shoulder about Baoyu while playing dice with Baochai. Baoyu quarrels with Daiyu before they greet cousin Shi Xiangyun, who Daiyu mocks.

Chapter 20

王熙凤正言弹妒意

林黛玉俏语谑娇音

They hear Nanny Li and Aroma arguing in Baoyu’s room; he runs back and supports the ill Aroma, making Nanny Li cry. Daiyu and Baochai arrive to hear all her woes, and Xifeng enters to haul her away. The fall-out leads to Aroma getting upset and more ill. After dinner all the maids leave but Musk 麝月, and he combs her hair, earning a rebuke from the sharp-tongued Skybright.

At this time of year, everyone is on holiday; Jia Huan 贾环 visits Baochai to play dice with the maids. He shocks Baochai by revealing the chip on his shoulder about his half-brother Baoyu. He leaves when Baoyu arrives, and at home his real mother Aunt Zhao 赵姨娘 curses Baoyu, inciting a scolding from Xifeng. She also tells Huan off and replaces his gambling losses.

Baoyu and Baochai go to see Shi Xiangyun 史湘云, who has just arrived. First he quarrels with Daiyu, who storms out. He leaves to welcome Xiangyun, but returns to continue the argument about his temper. Xiangyun then enters, reproving them for ignoring her. Daiyu mocks her lisp; Xiangyun tells her she won’t be able to find a fault in Baochai. Baoyu is amused, and Xiangyun flees.

Chapter 19 - supercondensed

Baoyu is bored on New Year’s Eve and visits Aroma’s house; they then bicker back at his room. The next morning Aroma is ill. Baoyu visits Daiyu, and is fascinated by her fragrance. They chat and he teases her.

Chapter 19

情切切良宵花解语

意绵绵静日玉生香

After the stress of the visit, everyone is left idle and unoccupied, especially Baoyu. He finds himself alone while others gamble or watch plays on New Year’s Eve, and while Aroma is with her family, and he decides to go to Zhen’s study to look at a picture, where he finds Tealeaf making love to Swastika 卍儿. They decide to go to Aroma’s house, despite the risk that they could get in trouble. Her brother, Hua Zifang 花自芳, lets them stay. It is awkward, as the Huas are embarrassed about their humble house; Aroma passes round his jade for them to see, and Zifang gets them cabs back.

Before Baoyu returns, Nanny Li scolds the maids who are playing and drinks all Baoyu’s kumis, a present from Yuanchun he was saving for Aroma. She doesn’t mind though, so neither does he. She says it made her sick last time and asks for chestnuts instead which Baoyu dutifully peels for her. He compliments her cousin’s beauty, saying she should join the household, which upsets Aroma. Aroma reveals that her family want to buy her out of service in a year, and she wants to go back to them; Baoyu says he won’t let her. However, before Baoyu had appeared at her house earlier, she had told her family she would never want to return to them, leaving her in tears when he arrived. She had also said she wanted chestnuts to avoid a scene over the kumis. Aroma wakes Baoyu, who is crying; she tells him that if he can make certain changes she’ll never leave him.

The next morning, Aroma has contracted a chill. Baoyu goes to see Daiyu, and he becomes fascinated with a fragrance on her. They chat aimlessly, and he tells a teasing story about magic mice from near Yangzhou – she attacks him; he defends it as an allusion, when Baochai enters. Baochai sticks up for Daiyu.

Chapter 18 - supercondensed

Preparations completed, Yuanchun visits. She expresses her pleasure at the garden and Baoyu’s inscriptions while berating the family for the extravagance. She names the garden Prospect Garden; they compose poetry and enjoy plays before Yuanchun leaves in tears.

Chapter 18

皇恩重元妃省父母

天伦乐宝玉献词华

Preparations are complete after months of hard work, and so Zheng finally sends in a written application for a Visitation, which is accepted. Eunuchs and officials inspect the area while the household puts on the finishing touches. On the appointed day, the household gathers, but a eunuch tells them to disband – they are much too early. She arrives to much pomp; she declares the garden ‘so extravagant’. It transpires that most of the place names used are those suggested by Baoyu, leading to an aside from the Stone on Baoyu and Yuanchun’s early relationship. Several inscriptions are changed at her suggestion.

Yuanchun kowtows to Grandmother Jia out of instinct, leading to high emotions all round. Senior eunuchs are led away to be entertained, and Yuanchun is able to chat informally with her family. She talks with Zheng through a curtain (men need ‘special reason’) to see her, and expresses her pleasure at Baoyu’s inscriptions. She summons him, and asks him to lead her on an inspection of the garden. The decorations and entertainments are extravagant, and she again berates the family. She dispenses with court etiquette and sits down to dinner; she chooses to call the garden ‘Prospect Garden’ and alters some place names. She requests Baoyu write octets for her four favourite places, and the girls offer octets too. Baochai sneaks a look at his poems and offers a suggestion based on Yuanchun’s observed tastes. Yuanchun is delighted. The plays begin, and Yuanchun sends confectionary to her favourite of the actresses, Charmante 龄官. Yuanchun completes her tour of the garden, and gives presents to each of her family. She is in tears as she is recalled to the Palace.

Chapter 17 - supercondensed

With the new garden completed, Baoyu is asked to join Zhen, Zheng and a group of literary gentlemen composing suitable inscriptions. He impresses at first, but is dismissed after infuriating Zheng by showing off. Daiyu and Baoyu argue after she thinks he has given away a purse made for him; in fact, he has treasured the purse and they make up. A number of actresses and nuns joins the household.

Chapter 17

大观园试才题对额 荣国府归省庆元宵

 

Work on the new garden is completed, and Zhen and Zheng need to decide on the inscriptions. They and the literary gentlemen decide to compose temporary inscriptions on lantern and let Yuanchun decide permanent names. Zhen runs ahead to warn that they will be taking a tour of the garden for this end; Baoyu tries to leave but bumps into the party. On the basis of his reported skill for composing couplets, Zheng asks Baoyu to join them. The party follow the garden path and inspect aspects of the garden at length, making naming suggestions at various locations; Baoyu impresses all with both his criticisms of others’ and his own offerings, but while Zheng is quietly pleased, he doesn’t accept them for fear of overindulgence, eventually erupting in anger at him.

The garden and buildings are exquisite, but Baoyu loses the support of the literary gentlemen when he begins to question nature and artifice. Zheng is furious, and criticises his effort at a couplet; this happens several more times, including at the intended residence for Yuanchun, at which point Baoyu has become more reticent to express opinions.

At last Baoyu is dismissed by his father, and is told by a group of pages that it was their lack of intervention that allowed him to show off, and so they take his possessions as rewards. Daiyu assumes this includes a purse she gave him, and she is angry, and cuts up a perfume sachet she was making for him, which she comes to regret – he has treasured the purse inside his clothing, and throws it back at her, calling her stingy. They make up, emotionally.

Qiang has returned from Suzhou with twelve actresses, causing excitement. They move to a drama school in the Xues’ old quarters. Twenty four nuns have also just been selected, and an ‘unshaved nun’ called Adamantina 妙玉 is invited to join them.