The Debt of Tears

by Cao Xueqin

  ‘The little girl is suffering from a convulsive attack complicated by an internal fever. She must first take a single dose of a combined anti-spasmodic and expectorant, and then I want you to give her a course of Four Prodigies Powders. It is quite a serious attack.

  ‘You will notice Cow’s Bezoar-stone in my prescription. I should mention that a lot of the Bezoars sold by the apothecaries nowadays are not genuine. It is important that you procure the real thing.’

  Grandmother Jia thanked him for coming, and the doctor went out with Jia Lian, wrote out his prescription and left.

  There’s always Ginseng in the house,’ said Xi-feng, ‘but I don’t think we’ve any Bezoar. We’ll have to buy some and make sure it’s genuine.’

  ‘Wait until I’ve sent someone round to my sister’s,’ said Lady Wang. ‘I know Pan has often done business with merchants from overseas. They might easily have some real Bezoar.’

  As she was speaking, several of the girls arrived to see Qiao-jie. They stayed for a short while, and then left with Grandmother Jia and the others.

  Qiao-jie’s expectorant was now prepared and poured down her throat. There was a retching sound and up it came, medicine, phlegm and all, much to Xi-feng’s relief. One of Lady Wang’s junior maids arrived with a little red paper packet.

  ‘We found some Bezoar, ma’am. Her Ladyship says you’re to weigh out the correct amount and take as much as you need.’

  Xi-feng asked the maid to convey her thanks to Lady Wang, took the package and told Patience to mix Pulverized Pearl, Baros Camphor and Cinnabar in the prescribed proportions and bring them to the boil. She herself weighed out the correct amount of powdered Bezoar on the scales and added it to the mixture. She waited for Qiao-jie to wake again before administering the potion.

  Who should lift the door-blind and walk in at this very moment but Jia Huan.

  ‘How’s Qiao-jie, Cousin Feng? Mother sent me to inquire.’

  The sight of either Aunt Zhao or her son invariably made Xi-feng’s hackles rise.

  ‘She’s a little better,’ she replied in rather a caustic tone. ‘When you go back, please tell your mother I’m sorry to have caused her so much trouble.’

  Jia Huan mumbled something about going, but started nosing round the room.

  ‘I say,’ he said after a while. ‘I heard you had some of that Bezoar stuff in here. I’ve never seen any before. Let’s have a look.’

  ‘Qiao-jie is only just on the mend,’ said Xi-feng, ‘so do you mind not crashing around in here? The Bezoar has all been used for her potion anyway.’

  Hearing this, Jia Huan reached out clumsily for the chafing-skillet to have a look. He lost his grip, and there was a great hiss as the skillet tipped over and the precious medicine spilled into the brazier, half extinguishing the fire. Jia Huan could see he was in for trouble and beat a hasty retreat. Xi-feng was so furious she seemed to emit sparks of rage.

  ‘You vile harpy’s brat!’ she screamed after him. ‘Bane of my life! What can I have done in a past life to deserve such spite? Your mother tried to do me in, now it’s Qiao-jie’s turn! How many generations must this feud go on for?’

  Patience had her share of the blame too, for not being more careful. While Xi-feng was in full spate, a maid came in to fetch Jia Huan home.

  ‘Go and tell Mrs Zhao,’ ordered Xi-feng, ‘that she is putting herself to too much trouble. Qiao-jie is as good as dead already, so she needn’t go to such lengths!’

  The maid, nonplussed by Xi-feng’s remarks, went over to Patience, who was busy mixing up another dose of medicine, and asked her in a whisper:

  ‘What’s made Mrs Lian so angry?’

  Patience told her about Jia Huan’s disastrous episode.

  ‘No wonder he ran away and didn’t dare come home!’ exclaimed the maid. ‘Goodness knows how that Huan will turn out! Can I help you tidy up, Patience?’

  ‘Don’t worry. Luckily we had a little Bezoar left and it’s all mixed now, so you might as well go.’

  ‘I’ll certainly tell Mrs Zhao the minute I get back. Perhaps that will stop her bragging about him all the time.’

  The maid returned and, true to her word, gave Aunt Zhao a detailed account of Jia Huan’s débâcle.

  ‘Bring him to me!’ cried Aunt Zhao in an agitated tone.

  After a brief search, the maid discovered him skulking in the adjoining room, and Aunt Zhao immediately began discharging a volley of abuse in his direction:

  ‘You miserable little runt! What did you have to go and get yourself into trouble for, spilling their medicine all over the place? I said go and ask how she was, not go barging in! But you had to, didn’t you? And when you were in, you had to stay and goad the dragon on. You must have known you were playing with fire! You wait till I tell your father about this! He’ll give you, the thrashing you deserve!’

  Even stronger words had already been let loose in reply from the other room. But to hear for yourself, please turn to the next chapter.

  Chapter 85

  It is announced that Jia Zheng has been promoted to the rank of Permanent Secretary

  And it is discovered that Xue Pan has once more brought upon himself the threat of exile

  ‘All I did was knock a skillet over and spill a bit of medicine!’ yelled Jia Huan before his mother could finish. ‘That measly little brat of hers is still alive, isn’t she? Anyone would think I’d done her in, the way you two are going on at me about it, slandering me and dragging my name in the mud! One day I really will finish her off! That would teach you all a lesson! You’d better tell them to look out!’

  Aunt Zhao came hurtling in and clapped a hand over his mouth.

  ‘You’re asking for it, saying such dreadful things! They’ll have your neck first, my boy, see if they don’t!’

  They kept it up like this for some time. Jia Huan slipped in Xi-feng’s barbed little message, which made his mother more implacable them ever. There was now no question of her sending anyone over to Xi-feng’s with an apology, and although Qiao-jie made a complete recovery a few days later, the episode had deepened the feud between the two sections of the family.

  *

  One day Steward Lin came in to report to Jia Zheng that it was the Prince of Bei-jing’s birthday.

  ‘Are there any special instructions, sir?’

  ‘Send whatever we usually send,’ replied Jia Zheng. ‘Report to Sir She first, before delivering the presents.’

  ‘Very good sir,’ said Lin, and went to make the necessary arrangements. A little later, Jia She arrived himself, to discuss with his brother the details of the visit. They decided to take Cousin Zhen, Jia Lian and Bao-yu along with them. If for the four older men it was merely another social engagement, for Bao-yu it was an opportunity long awaited. He had been a fervent admirer of the Prince’s handsome, looks and graceful bearing ever since their memorable first encounter at the roadside halt. He changed eagerly into his smartest clothes and went to join the others.

  On arrival at the Palace, Jia She and Jia Zheng presented their cards and before long a Eunuch Chamberlain of the Household emerged, fingering his beads, and greeted them with a little peal of falsetto laughter:

  ‘I hope you are both keeping well?’

  They reciprocated the inquiry and the three younger Jias came forward to make their greeting.

  ‘His Imperial Highness will be pleased to receive you now.’ The eunuch led the five of them in, through two further gateways and past a large state-room, to the Inner Gate of the Prince’s personal residence. Here they halted once more, while the eunuch went in to announce their arrival, leaving them to be entertained by the various junior eunuchs in attendance at the gate.

  After a brief interval their original escort returned.

  ‘This way, please.’

  They all stepped solemnly forward again. The Prince, dressed in full robe of state, had paid them the compliment of coming out to receive them in one of the covered walks by the entrance to the main hall. The two
brothers advanced first and did homage, followed in order of seniority by Cousin Zhen, Jia Lian and Bao-yu. The Prince took Bao-yu by the hand.

  ‘It has been a long while since we last met. You have been much in my thoughts.’

  He smiled:

  ‘Tell me, how fares it with that stone of yours?’

  Bao-yu dropped to a half-kneeling position and with head bowed replied:

  ‘Your Highness’s beneficent aura has preserved us from misfortune.’

  ‘There is nothing very special to eat today,’ continued the Prince pleasantly. ‘But at least we shall be able to spend a little time talking together.’

  Eunuchs lifted the portière, and the Prince made a charming gesture of yielding the pas to his guests before leading the way in. The Jias followed, walking with a deferential stoop, and once inside Jia She was the first to offer his birthday felicitations. These the Prince accepted modestly, while Jia She sank to his knees. The others followed suit.

  Once these formalities (a detailed description of which our narrative omits) were over, the Jias began discreetly to take their leave. The Prince turned to his eunuchs and gave instructions that they were to be escorted to the reception which was being given for his own family and a few other distinguished guests and that they were to be attended to with the utmost care. He asked Bao-yu to stay behind for a chat.

  ‘Do sit down,’ he began, when the others had left. Bao-yu made his kotow of thanks for this honour, and perching delicately on a covered porcelain tabouret near the door, talked for a while of his studies and compositions and other things. The Prince seemed fonder than ever of his young protégé, and offered him some tea – a still greater honour. He went on to say:

  ‘Excellency Governor Wu was in town yesterday for an audience with His Majesty. He told me that your father, in his last posting as Commissioner of Education, showed the most scrupulous impartiality and gained the respect of all the candidates he examined. At the audience, when H.M. inquired, Wu gave your father the highest recommendation. Clearly a favourable omen…’

  Bao-yu had risen swiftly to his feet when the Prince began speaking, and when he finished replied:

  ‘You have shown us a great favour, Your Highness, and Governor Wu has done us a great kindness.’

  As he was speaking, a junior eunuch returned from the reception in the front state-room to convey a message of thanks from the various Lords and Gentlemen for their banquet, and to present their cards of appreciation and midday greeting to the Prince, who glanced through them and handed them back with a gracious smile and a brief word of acknowledgement.

  ‘And, if it please Your Highness,’ the eunuch continued, ‘the repast you ordered specially for Master Jia Bao-yu is now ready.’

  The Prince gave him a few further words of instruction, and the eunuch led Bao-yu out to an exquisitely appointed suite of rooms facing a small courtyard, where he ordered another attendant to wait upon him during the meal. Afterwards, Bao-yu returned to give thanks and the Prince continued chatting in the same complimentary vein. Suddenly he laughed:

  ‘When I first saw that stone of yours, I was so taken with it, you know, that on my return I gave my jade-workers a description of it and asked them to make me one like it. I am so glad you have come today. I can give it to you to take home. It might amuse you to keep it.’

  One of the junior eunuchs was ordered to bring the jade in, and the Prince himself handed it to Bao-yu, who received it humbly in both hands, gave thanks and then took his leave. The Prince told two more junior eunuchs to accompany him out, he rejoined the other members of the family, and they all returned home.

  On arrival, Jia She paid his respects to Grandmother Jia and left for his own apartment. Jia Zheng and the others also paid their respects and gave her a full account of the reception. Bao-yu communicated to his father the news he had received about Governor Wu’s sponsorial activities.

  ‘Governor Wu,’ commented Jia Zheng drily, ‘is an old friend, and a man after my own heart. He is also, I might add, a statesman of the highest integrity.’

  After a little more chat, Grandmother Jia gave permission for them all to disperse. Jia Zheng took his leave, and was followed by Cousin Zhen, Jia Lian and Bao-yu as far as the door.

  With a parting injunction to the three of them to stay and keep Grandmother Jia company a little longer, Jia Zheng returned to his apartment. He had not been there long when a maid came in to announce that Steward Lin was waiting outside with something to report. She also handed him a red visiting card with Governor Wu’s name on it. Jia Zheng told her to admit Lin, and went out to speak to him on the verandah.

  ‘Excellency Governor Wu called to see you today, sir,’ reported Lin. ‘I informed him that you were out. And another thing, sir; I have heard that a Permanent Secretary’s position has become vacant in the Ministry of Works. According to various people, including officials in the Ministry, you are to be given the post as confirmation of your present rank.’

  ‘H’m…’ said Jia Zheng. ‘We shall see.’

  Lin conferred with his master on one or two other matters and then left.

  *

  After Jia Zheng’s departure, Cousin Zhen and Jia Lian returned to their separate apartments, while Bao-yu went back to Grandmother Jia’s. He was now able to tell her all about his day at the Palace. He described how kindly the Prince had treated him, and took out the jade he had been given, which was passed round and commented on with some amusement. Grandmother Jia told a maid to put it safely away.

  ‘And don’t whatever you do take your own off,’ she said to Bao-yu. ‘You don’t want to go getting them mixed up.’

  Bao-yu promptly untied his original from around his neck.

  ‘But look,’ he said, ‘they’re so different, how could I ever get them mixed up? That reminds me, Grannie, of something that happened the other night, as I was going to bed. I had just taken my jade off and hung it inside the bed-curtains, when I noticed a halo around it, and the whole inside of my bed was lit up with a rosy glow.’

  ‘You silly boy!’ exclaimed Grandmother Jia. ‘There’s red thread in your pelmet. That must have been the lamp-light showing through.’

  ‘But it couldn’t have been. The lamps were all out and it was pitch-black in my room, and I still saw it glowing.’

  Lady Xing and Lady Wang exchanged a meaningful smile. A certain ‘rosy’ event had been much in the forefront of their minds recently. Xi-feng too could not restrain herself from remarking cryptically:

  ‘No doubt this heralds the Big Event…’

  ‘What big event?’ asked Bao-yu.

  ‘Nothing you would understand,’ put in Grandmother Jia promptly. ‘Now come along. It’s been a hectic day for you, and you ought to go and rest, and not waste any more time here telling tall stories.’

  Bao-yu stayed a minute or two longer and then returned to the Garden. When he was out of the room, Grandmother Jia turned to Lady Wang:

  ‘Well, have you been to see Mrs Xue, and put it to her yet?’

  ‘Yes Mother, we have,’ replied Lady Wang. ‘Feng has been so busy with little Qiao-jie the last few days, and we just haven’t had a chance to go until today. Anyway, my sister seems very happy with the idea, but she says she will have to wait until Pan comes home before saying anything final. She must consult him first, as the eldest man in the family.’

  ‘Quite right,’ said Grandmother Jia. ‘We shall have to bide our time until they have had a chance to talk it over. In the meantime, not a word of this to anyone.’

  *

  We must leave these matrimonial confabulations and accompany the unwitting subject of them, who on his arrival at Green Delights confided to Aroma:

  ‘Grannie and Feng were being most mysterious about something just now. I don’t know what’s going on.’

  Aroma looked thoughtful for a moment.

  ‘I’ve no idea either,’ she finally returned, with a peculiar smile, adding (as if it were an afterthought): ‘I wonder, was
Miss Lin there when they were talking?’

  ‘Of course not! You know she’s been ill and has to stay in.’

  Their conversation was interrupted by the sound of Musk and Ripple having a tiff in the next room.

  ‘What is the matter with you two?’ Aroma called out.

  ‘It’s all Ripple’s fault!’ replied Musk. ‘She’s been cheating at cards! She took my money fast enough when she won, but now that I’ve won she won’t let go of a penny. And now I’m cleaned right out!’

  ‘Oh come on!’ Bao-yu chided them with a laugh. ‘Stop being so stupid! Who wants to quarrel over a few coins?’ They both pouted and went off in high dudgeon, leaving Aroma to settle Bao-yu down for the night.

  Now Aroma was sure that the mysterious conversation Bao-yu had referred to in some way concerned his betrothal. She had only feigned ignorance for fear that in his present mood, mention of such a touchy subject might provoke another of his fits. She herself was most anxious to know the latest news, and while she lay awake that night she decided to go and see Nightingale first thing in the morning. Nightingale would be sure to know, and would be able to tell her what was going on.

  And so the next day she rose early, and after seeing Bao-yu off to school, completed her own toilet and strolled through the Garden to the Naiad’s House. Nightingale was out in the front courtyard picking flowers, and greeted her with a smile:

  ‘Hello, Aroma. Do come in and sit down.’

  ‘Thank you. Busy with your flowers, I see…How is Miss Lin?’

  ‘She has just finished her toilet. She’s waiting for her medicine to be warmed up.’

  Nightingale took Aroma inside. Dai-yu was reading a book, which provided Aroma with a ready-made topic of conversation. She gave an ingratiating smile:

  ‘It’d be a wonder if you didn’t feel tired sometimes, Miss, reading at such an early hour. If Master Bao would only follow your good example!’

  Dai-yu smiled wanly and put her book down. Meanwhile Snowgoose had come in with a small tray containing two cups, one of medicine and one of water. She was followed by a junior maid bearing spittoon and bowL.