Chapter 43

闲取乐偶攒金庆寿

不了情暂撮土为香

Grandmother Jia, now recovered, is at Lady Wang’s to discuss Xifeng’s birthday. She suggests not buying individual presents, but imitating poorer families by pooling their money to buy her a treat. They summon the entire household, including senior servants (and Xifeng), who assemble immediately and all assent to the idea either through affection for or fear of Xifeng. Led by Xifeng, there are discussions regarding who should pay for whose contribution, and who should pay how much. The maids and concubines are brought in to contribute too, until only Aunts Zhou and Zhao have been left out. Youshi quietly remonstrates with Xifeng for bringing them in too. Once the amount has been calculated, Xifeng decides she wants to hire a troupe from outside; Youshi agrees to organise it, and further remonstrates with Xifeng later.

The next day, the contributions (now referred to as ‘subscriptions’ to Youshi’s chagrin) begin to arrive at Youshi’s place in Ningguo. Xifeng is to pay for several people, and she has the money ready when Youshi visits her, but Youshi notices some missing, leading to further argument. She goes to see Grandmother Jia and Lady Wang to discuss the party arrangements further, handing back the more hard-up household members’ contributions.

Xifeng’s birthday rolls round, with an extraordinary array of activities. It coincides with a meeting of the poetry club, and Baoyu is not present. The members send maids to ask Aroma where he is; unsatisfied, Li Wan goes to Aroma. He had left that morning – despite the celebrations – to the Prince of Beijing’s palace, where someone had died. He should, however, be back, and when Grandmother Jia issues a summons she is displeased to hear of his absence.

The day before he had conspired to tell Tealeaf to promulgate the story about the Prince of Beijing. Before dawn, he and Baoyu left on horses, and galloped out of town. They cobble together some incense and, on Tealeaf’s suggestion, head to the nearby Temple of the Water Spirit, whose nun is a subscriber of theirs. Baoyu explains his revulsion at the way the wealthy, ignorant and vulgar treat religion – today, however, he feels differently, and on arrival he contemplates the statue and weeps. He takes tea, burns incense and makes a half-obeisance, refusing everything else. Before taking the burner back, Tealeaf kowtows to the idol, beseeching her on his master’s behalf to reincarnate Baoyu as a girl. Baoyu laughs. They have some food and Tealeaf encourages him to head back soon, as they are bound to be worrying. They hurry back, Baoyu going straight to the party via changing. He greets an upset Silver and kowtows to Xifeng; Grandmother Jia’s anxiety has turned to anger at him and his pages, threatening another beating. She calms and fusses over him. They all watch plays and weep.