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.