Chapter 49

琉璃世界白雪红梅

脂粉香娃割腥啖膻

The cousins gather round Daiyu to read Caltrop’s poem – it is excellent, but Caltrop thinks they are humouring her. A number of servants arrive calling to them to meet two relations who have arrived. Lady Wang’s main reception room is packed – Xifeng’s brother is there with Lady Xing’s brother and his family, and Li Wan’s widowed aunt and her daughters and Xue Pan’s cousins have also arrived simultaneously. All are very busy making introductions and making family talk, especially Xifeng, but Daiyu weeps to think of her solitary state – Baoyu consoles her. Baoyu runs back to tell his maids to see the visitors – he is particularly awed by Li Wan’s cousins’ beauty. Tanchun arrives – she is excited by the potential new club members, and they discuss who may be good and who is prettiest. Tanchun reports that Lady Jia is particularly captivated with Baochai’s cousin Baoqin 宝琴 and has adopted her. They are due to have a club meeting today but, thanks to the new arrivals and illnesses, they choose to delay a few days. They go to Grandmother Jia’s apartment together, where the new arrivals’ living arrangements are being sorted out. Li Wan’s cousins are to live with her; Xifeng has put Lady Xing’s niece Xiuyan 岫烟 with Yingchun, and Baoqin is to stay with Lady Jia. News arrives that Shi Xiangyun’s father is to be posted elsewhere, and Grandmother Jia moves Xiangyun in to stay with Baochai. There are now thirteen people living in the garden, all but two between fifteen and seventeen years old – they abandon all attempts at formalities of address. Caltrop and Xiangyun are inseparable, and their chatter annoys Baochai. Baoqin arrives in a spectacular cape, given to her by Grandmother Jia – Xiangyun teases her that she wouldn’t even let Baoyu wear something so fine. Xiangyun advises her to stay in the garden, and Amber arrives with a message for Baochai to allow Baoqin to have her own way. She teases her, and they all tease Baoyu and Daiyu, who have just arrived, which puzzles him, not to mention Baochai and Daiyu’s apparent rapprochement, and Daiyu and Baoqin’s immediate intimacy. The others leave, and Daiyu asks Baoyu about a passage in ‘the Western Chamber’, and explains her thawing of relations with Baochai. She cries to talk of Baoqin as a sister, and he consoles her. They are summoned by Li Wan to discuss the poetry meeting. Almost all are present when they arrive – it is starting to snow, and they all have fine coats, particularly Xiangyun. They arrange to have a welcome party in the snow the next day. All, apart from the new arrivals, will contribute some money.

The next day, Baoyu is enchanted by the snow-covered garden. He walks to the party, but is early and returns, visiting Lady Jia with Tanchun. After talking with Xiangyun, Baoyu asks Xifeng for some fresh venison to cook later in the garden. They are late for the party; soon the stove and grill arrive and Patience, there carrying Xifeng’s apologies, starts cooking. The newcomers are extremely excited and tuck in, and when Xifeng arrives later, she joins; only Daiyu and Baochai are unimpressed. After cooking, Patience has lost a bracelet, but Xifeng mysteriously assures her she knows where it is, reminding the others that it is nearly time for New Year’s riddles. Wine and food is arranged, and a theme – snow - announced for the poetry competition. Li Wan suggests giving three lines to start off the poem; Baochai suggests a fixed order.