The Debt of Tears

by Cao Xueqin

  ‘Yes sir.’

  He nodded pensively.

  ‘Nothing brilliant about it of course, but for a first attempt not at all bad, I must say. Ah, Mencius! I recall how during my tour of duty as an examiner I had occasion to set as one of my Themes “Soli Nobilitatis Sapientiaeque Alumni sunt potis”. All the first-degree candidates, I regret to say, had their heads crammed full of the standard compositions on the Theme, and not a single one of them could come up with anything original. All plagiarisms. Are you familiar with the quotation?’

  ‘Yes sir. Mencius, Book One, Part Two: “Only Good Breeding and a Heritage of Culture have the power to sustain a man in the face of Adversity”.’

  ‘Good,’ replied Jia Zheng. ‘I should like you to show me what you can do. Something of your own, please, not another feat of memorization. An Apertura will do.’

  Bao-yu lowered his head in concentration and began racking his brains for a pithy opening phrase, while Jia Zheng stood thoughtfully in the doorway, hands clasped behind his back. Just at that moment, a diminutive page-boy went flashing past. As he caught sight of the Master in the doorway, he froze, his body slightly inclined, his arms hanging limp at his side.

  ‘What is your errand, boy?’ asked Jia Zheng brusquely.

  ‘Please, sir, Mrs Xue has just arrived at Her Old Ladyship’s and Mrs Lian has sent me with special instructions to the kitchen, sir,’ jabbered the unfortunate boy. Jia Zheng made no reply, and he fled.

  Now Bao-yu assumed that if Aunt Xue had come over for a visit, then Bao-chai (whom he had greatly missed since her departure from the Garden) was sure to have come with her. His excitement at the thought of seeing her again spurred him on.

  ‘Sir,’ he ventured, ‘I have a draft Apertura for your approval.’

  ‘Go ahead.’

  Bao-yu intoned his opening sentence:

  ‘Non omnes Sapientiae Alumni sunt, neque possunt ca-rere Stabili Patrimonio.’

  Jia Zheng nodded.

  ‘Thank you. That will do for today. In future, please bear in mind these two Golden Rules for Composition. Before raising your brush, always be certain of the sequence of your Dispositio and the clarity of your Inventio. Tell me, was your grandmother aware that I sent for you?’

  ‘Yes sir.’

  ‘Off you go then. You had better go over and see her now.’

  ‘Sir!’

  Bao-yu manoeuvred his way backwards out of the study and set off along the covered way, imitating to perfection the scholar’s leisurely gait. As soon as he reached the moon-gate, however, and had placed its large protective screen between himself and the study, he broke into a run and raced ahead towards Grandmother Jia’s apartment.

  ‘Careful you don’t trip!’ Tealeaf shouted after him. ‘The Master’s coming.’

  Bao-yu was much too excited to pay any attention. As he neared the entrance to Grandmother Jia’s apartment, he could hear the sounds of conversation and laughter coming from within. He could make out, among others, the voices of Lady Wang, Xi-feng and Tan-chun.

  When the maids saw him coming, they quickly drew aside the portière and whispered in his ear as he passed through:

  ‘Mrs Xue is here, you know.’

  Bao-yu hurried in to greet his aunt, and then paid his respects to Grandmother Jia. He gave her a full account of his interview with Jia Zheng, and her face radiated pride and delight.

  ‘Where’s Cousin Chai?’ he asked, turning to the assembled company.

  ‘She couldn’t come with me today,’ said Aunt Xue, with a rather unconvincing smile. ‘She and Caltrop have a lot of sewing to catch up on at home.’

  Bao-yu was very disappointed, and only a sense of duty kept him from leaving at once. Dinner was served and Grandmother Jia and Aunt Xue sat up at the table of honour, while Tan-chun and the others took their places down below.

  ‘Where will Bao-yu be sitting?’ asked Aunt Xue.

  ‘Up here with me,’ said Grandmother Jia with a smile.

  ‘Li Gui told me to have my dinner before seeing Father,’ Bao-yu hastily informed her. ‘So I asked for a quick meal when I got in from school. I had a dish of something and a bowl of rice steeped in tea. You all go ahead, please.’

  ‘In that case,’ said Grandmother Jia, ‘Feng can come and sit with us. Your mother says it’s one of her vegetarian days today, so she can eat alone.’

  ‘That’s right,’ said Lady Wang to Xi-feng. ‘You eat with them. Don’t wait for me. I shall be having my vegetables at home.’

  Xi-feng politely took her seat and the maids put out the wine cups and chopsticks. Then Xi-feng went round with the wine kettle, and, when everyone’s cup was filled, returned to her seat.

  After they had all had a drink of wine, Grandmother Jia asked Aunt Xue:

  ‘Didn’t I hear you say Caltrop just then? That’s funny. One of my maids was talking only the other day about someone called Lily, and I couldn’t for the life of me think who she meant. When I asked her, she told me it was Caltrop’s new name. Do tell me what she wants to go and change her name for?’

  The colour rose in Aunt Xue’s cheeks and she sighed:

  ‘Please don’t ever mention it again. Since the day Pan married that wretched wife we haven’t had a moment’s peace. The bickering, the nastiness, it’s been too awful. I’ve tried talking to her several times, but she is quite impervious to reason. And I can’t bear quarrelling with them all the time, so I just end up trying to turn a blind eye. Yes, she decided to change Caltrop’s name because she said she didn’t like it.’

  ‘Oh well,’ said Grandmother Jia, ‘what’s in a name when all’s said and done?’

  ‘I shall die for shame!’ cried Aunt Xue. ‘I’m sure all of you know the real reason. It wasn’t the name. It was the fact that Bao-chai had thought of it in the first place. That’s what she really objected to.’

  ‘What do you mean?’ asked Grandmother Jia.

  Aunt Xue had been dabbing at her eyes all the while with her handkerchief. She heaved another deep sigh before she was able to continue.

  ‘Surely you must know? Every single thing my daughter-in-law does is aimed at provoking Bao-chai. She won’t leave her alone. The other day, when you sent someone round to see me, we were in the middle of one of our scenes!’

  ‘That must have been the day I heard you had a little bit of a liver upset,’ said Grandmother Jia tactfully. ‘I was going to send someone over to see how you were, but then I heard that you were feeling better so I thought no more about it. You should take my advice, dear, and stop worrying. They’re a newly married couple and you must give them time to settle down. And you’re so lucky to have Chai. She is such a gentle, unflappable girl. She may be young, but my word, she has the aplomb of someone twice her age! When my maid came back and told us what had happened that day, and the way she coped with it, we were all singing her praises. Such a wonderful disposition! She’s a girl in a million. When she gets married, if you don’t mind my saying so, her mother-in-law will take her to her bosom and the whole household will be devoted to her, I am certain of it.’

  Earlier, Bao-yu had found the general tenor of the conversation rather distasteful, and was just saying something about having to leave when his grandmother embarked upon this eulogy of Bao-chai, and he found himself listening with rapt attention.

  ‘What’s the use?’ said Aunt Xue. ‘Whatever her qualities, she is still only a daughter. With a son as hopeless as Pan, I can have no peace; I never stop worrying in case he has gone off to one of his haunts, had too much to drink again and landed himself in another brawl. In fact the only time I ever feel at all reassured is when he’s over here with his cousins Zhen and Lian.’

  At this, Bao-yu chirped up:

  ‘There’s really nothing to fear, Auntie. I can vouch for Cousin Pan’s friends. They are all serious businessmen and far too respectable to get into trouble.’

  ‘In that case,’ said Aunt Xue with a smile, ‘perhaps I shouldn’t worry.’

  Supper wa
s over by now, and Bao-yu excused himself, saying he still had some preparation to do that evening. The maids were serving tea, when Amber came into the room and whispered something in Grandmother Jia’s ear. She turned to Xi-feng:

  ‘You’d better go quickly, my dear. It’s Qiao-jie.’

  Xi-feng had no idea what the matter could be and the others were as puzzled as she was.

  ‘Patience sent one of the younger maids round with a message for you, Mrs Lian,’ explained Amber, crossing over to where Xi-feng sat. ‘Miss Qiao-jie does not seem at all well and would you please go over as soon as possible.’

  You’d better go straight away,’ said Grandmother Jia. ‘You don’t have to stand on ceremony for your Aunt Xue.’

  ‘Yes Grannie,’ said Xi-feng, and she took her leave of Aunt Xue. As she was on her way out she heard Lady Wang say:

  ‘You go ahead. I’ll be along shortly. Tell the maids to be quiet and not to make a lot of fuss. Little ones get so easily unsettled. And make sure that kitten and puppy are kept well out of the way. Poor child! I suppose little upsets are to be expected in a family as greatly blessed as ours.’

  Xi-feng promised Lady Wang to carry out her instructions and left with her maid. After her departure, Aunt Xue went on to inquire after Dai-yu’s health.

  ‘Miss Lin is all right,’ replied Grandmother Jia. ‘She just takes everything too seriously. That’s what is undermining her health, if you ask me. She may be as clever as Bao-chai, but she lacks your daughter’s easy way with people. Chai is so responsible and considerate.’

  The conversation continued a little longer, and then Aunt Xue said she must be going.

  ‘I’ll leave you in peace now. I’d better see how Chai and Caltrop are getting on at home. I’ll go along with Aunt Wang and have a look at Qiao-jie on my way.’

  ‘What a good idea,’ said Grandmother Jia. ‘With your experience you will be able to give them some helpful advice, I’m sure.’

  Aunt Xue took her leave and went with Aunt Wang to Xi-feng’s apartment.

  To return to Jia Zheng: he had been pleasantly surprised by Bao-yu’s performance that evening, and mentioned it later in the course of conversation with his literary friends in the outer study. A newcomer among them, an excellent Go-player by the name of Wang Er-tiao (also called Go-between Wang), remarked:

  ‘I think we have all noticed a marked progress in Master Bao, sir. He is becoming quite a cultured young fellow.’

  ‘I hardly think so,’ replied Jia Zheng. ‘His powers of comprehension have improved, I grant you. But culture? No, he has a long way to go yet.’

  ‘Come come, Sir Zheng!’ said Zhan Guang. ‘You are being too modest. Friend Wang’s opinion is one we all share. Master Bao will surely go far.’

  ‘I’m afraid you are allowing your partiality for the boy to sway your judgement,’ was their patron’s reply, but he was visibly pleased.

  ‘With your leave, sir,’ continued Wang, ‘there is another matter in this connection that I should like to broach if I may.’

  ‘By all means.’

  Wang gave a smarmy smile.

  ‘An acquaintance of mine, Excellency Zhang, who used to be Taotai of the Nanshao Circuit, has a daughter, sir, a most attractive, industrious and generally commendable child, so I am told, and as yet unbetrothed. Excellency Zhang has no sons of his own and is, I should add, a man of enormous wealth. He is most particular in this matter, and stipulates that his son-in-law must come from an eminent and prosperous family, and must be a young man of distinguished character himself. In the two months I have been here, sir, I have become aware of the moral and intellectual calibre of young Master Bao, the promise of great things to come. If the proposal were known to come from a family as illustrious as your own, sir, it would I am sure need but a single visit from me for the betrothal to be as good as settled.’

  ‘It is true that Bao-yu has reached a marriageable age,’ replied Jia Zheng. ‘Lady Jia has reminded me of it more than once. But who is this Excellency Zhang? I’m afraid I don’t know him.’

  ‘Allow me to clarify, if I may,’ ventured Zhan. ‘I am acquainted with the Zhang family friend Wang refers to. They are related to Sir She’s family, in point of fact, and it should be easy enough to elicit more information from them.’

  ‘Really?’ said Jia Zheng thoughtfully. ‘I can’t say I have ever heard the name of any such relation mentioned at my brother’s.’

  ‘Well, strictly speaking, sir,’ explained Zhan, ‘they are related by marriage to Lady Xing’s elder brother.’

  ‘So, that’s where the relationship lies,’ thought Jia Zheng.

  A little later he went in, with the intention of talking this new proposal over with Lady Wang and asking her to sound out Lady Xing about the Zhang family. He found, however, that his wife was out, visiting Qiao-jie with Aunt Xue. At lighting-up time, when Aunt Xue went home and Lady Wang returned, Jia Zheng discussed the proposal with her. He also asked after Qiao-jie.

  ‘We think it’s convulsions,’ she said.

  ‘Nothing serious, I hope?’

  ‘It’s too early to tell. The fits have still not passed.’

  Jia Zheng sighed but said no more, and they retired for the night.

  *

  Next day, when Lady Xing came to pay her morning respects to Grandmother Jia, Lady Wang mentioned the marriage proposal and took the opportunity of asking Lady Xing about the Zhang family.

  ‘Yes, they are relations of ours,’ divulged Lady Xing. ‘But we’ve had no contact with them for years now, so I’ve no notion what this Miss Zhang is like. Now that you mention it, Ying’s mother-in-law, Mrs Sun, sent one of her women to call on me a day or two ago, and she mentioned the Zhangs. She told me they had a daughter and had asked the Suns to look out for a suitable husband for her. Apparently she is an only child and rather delicate. She has had a little education and sounds a quiet, shy sort of girl, used to staying at home. As she is an only child, her father won’t contemplate her leaving home. He is afraid the severity of a mother-in-law might be too much of a strain for her and insists on her husband coming to live with them and taking on his share of their family responsibilities.’

  ‘Out of the question!’ exclaimed Grandmother Jia. ‘Bao-yu is difficult enough for us to look after as it is. Can you imagine sending him out to be the head of some strange family?’

  ‘You are absolutely right of course,’ said Lady Xing.

  Grandmother Jia turned to Lady Wang.

  ‘Be sure to tell Zheng when you go home that I say this match is definitely off.’

  ‘Yes Mother.’

  ‘Tell me,’ the old lady continued, ‘how was Qiao-jie when you went to see her yesterday? Patience gave me the impression earlier on that it was something serious. I should like to go and see her myself.’

  The two ladies thanked Grandmother Jia for the kind thought, but begged her not to trouble herself for Qiao-jie’s sake.

  ‘It’s not only for her sake. It’s the exercise. I’d like to stretch my legs a bit,’ said the old lady. ‘You two have your lunch and then we can all go over together.’

  Lady Wang and Lady Xing went home for lunch. Afterwards they collected Grandmother Jia and escorted her to Xi-feng’s apartment. Xi-feng greeted them at the door and conducted them inside.

  ‘How is she?’ asked Grandmother Jia.

  ‘It seems to be an attack of convulsions,’ Xi-feng informed her.

  ‘Hadn’t you better call the doctor straight away?’

  ‘We already have, Grannie dear.’

  Grandmother Jia went in with Lady Wang and Lady Xing and found Qiao-jie in the arms of her nurse, wrapped in a little padded quilt of pink damask-silk, her face deathly white, her eyebrows and nostrils quivering slightly. After a brief inspection, they withdrew to the outer room, and sat down to talk. Presently a junior maid from Lady Wang’s apartment came in with a message for Xi-feng:

  ‘The Master has sent to inquire how Qiao-jie is, Mrs Lian.’

&
nbsp; ‘Tell him we have sent for the doctor,’ replied Xi-feng, ‘and that I will report as soon as he has made out his prescription.’

  The maid’s arrival reminded Grandmother Jia of the recently aired marriage proposal. She turned to Lady Wang:

  ‘You ought to go and tell Zheng straight away about that business, dear. If we put a stop to it now, before someone talks to the Zhang family, we will save ourselves the trouble of having to say no to them later.’

  She turned to Lady Xing.

  ‘Why is it you haven’t seen much of the Zhangs lately, anyway?’

  ‘As a matter of fact,’ replied Lady Xing, ‘they’re very mean and not the right sort of family for us at all. It would have been a needless humiliation for Bao-yu.’

  ‘That must be Bao-yu’s betrothal you are talking about, Mother?’ said Xi-feng, who had already formed a shrewd idea of what was going on.

  ‘Why yes, we are actually,’ said Lady Xing.

  Grandmother Jia told Xi-feng about the Zhang proposal. Xi-feng laughed:

  ‘I hope you’ll excuse me, Grannie, Mother, Auntie Wang, for speaking out of turn, but what need is there to go looking for a wife for Bao-yu, when we have a “predestined affinity” here before our very eyes?’

  ‘What do you mean?’ asked Grandmother Jia, intrigued.

  ‘Surely, Grannie, you can’t have forgotten Bao’s Magic Jade and Chai’s Golden Locket?’

  Grandmother Jia laughed.

  ‘Of course! But why on earth didn’t you mention it while Aunt Xue was here yesterday?’

  ‘It would hardly have been right for me to speak up in the presence of my elders and betters,’ replied Xi-feng. ‘Besides, Aunt Xue had come on a social call and it would have been out of place. If we are to do the thing properly, Mother and Aunt Wang must go over and ask Aunt Xue formally for Bao-chai’s hand.’

  They all laughed at her.

  ‘Bless you, Fengie,’ said Grandmother Jia. ‘I really must be going gaga.’

  Meanwhile the doctor was announced and Grandmother Jia took a seat in the outer room, while the two ladies discreetly withdrew. The doctor entered with Jia Lian and paid his respects to Grandmother Jia before proceeding into Qiao-jie’s room. When he returned, he bowed to Grandmother Jia and pronounced his diagnosis.