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.
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