A Dream of Red Mansion

by Cao Xueqin

  “Why were you away so long?” asked Xifeng on her return.

  Pinger gave her a detailed account of all that had happened.

  “Splendid! Good for Tanchun!” Xifeng smiled. “What did I always say? It’s too bad she wasn’t fated to be the mistress’ own daughter.”

  “So you, too, talk nonsense, dear madam!” retorted Pinger. “She may not be the mistress’ own child, but everyone has to show her the same respect as the other daughters of the house.”

  “You don’t understand.” Xifeng sighed. “Though we may say they’re the same, a girl can’t compare with a boy. When the time comes to arrange her marriage, some foolish people will first ask whether she’s the daughter of the wife or of a concubine, and most likely refuse her in the second case. Although, not to mention a concubine’s child, even one of the maids in our family is better than the daughters of other households. Some unlucky family may lose an excellent daughter-in-law by insisting on the wife’s daughter, and some lucky one may do well by not being so choosy.”

  She changed the subject then, continuing, “You know how hard I’ve tried to save money these last few years, which must have made the whole household secretly curse me. I’m riding on a tiger’s back, and though I’m not clamping down too strictly at present I can’t let everything slide. Besides, our expenses have increased while our income’s dwindled; yet we still have to manage all affairs large and small according to the ancestors’ old rules, in spite of less money coming in every year. If I economize too much, outsiders may jeer and Their Ladyships will feel the pinch, while the rest of the household complain of my stinginess. On the other hand, if I don’t devise ways to save money in good time, another few years may see us bankrupted.”

  “That’s very true,” agreed Pinger. “And there’s big expenditure still to come with the marriages of three or four young ladies and two or three young masters, as well as the Old Ancestress’ funeral.”

  “I’ve taken those into account. We’ve enough for (hat. The marriages of Baoyu and Daiyu won’t cost the estate anything, as the old lady will pay for them herself. We can count Yingchun out too, as she belongs to the Elder Master’s side. That leaves Tanchun and Xichun, who will require ten thousand taels each at the most. Huan’s marriage shouldn’t cost more than three thousand, which we can raise easily by cutting down on other expenses.

  “As for the old lady’s funeral, all the preparations have already been made, and sundry minor expenses will amount at most to another four or five thousand. So if we economize now we should do all right. It’s only the possibility of some unforeseen expenses that makes me anxious, for then we’d really be in serious trouble. Still, it’s no use worrying now.

  “Hurry up and have your meal, then go back to hear what they’re discussing. This is just the chance I wanted: it worried me that I had no assistant. Although there’s Baoyu, he’s not cut out for the job even if I win him to my side he’s not much use. Madam Zhu’s too saintly to be of any use either. And Yingchun’s even worse, apart from the fact that she doesn’t belong to our house. Xichun’s still too young; Lan’s even younger. As for Huan, he’s like a kitten half perished with cold, always looking for a stove or heated kang to creep under and get his hair singed. It really and truly passes my understanding how one mother could bear two such utterly different children!”

  “Daiyu and Baochai, now, are both good girls; but not being daughters of our family they can’t very well mind our affairs. Besides, one’s a lovely paper lantern which a puff of wind will blow out; and it’s no use asking the other anything, as she’s made up her mind not to open her mouth about matters that don’t concern her, but to shake her head in answer to all questions.

  “That leaves only Tanchun, who’s quick in the uptake with a ready tongue, a daughter of the house and a favourite with the mistress she just doesn’t show it because of the trouble made by that old bitch Concubine Zhao, but at heart she’s as fond of her as of Baoyu. Tanchun’s totally different from Huan, whom nobody could like. If I had my way, he’d have been thrown out long ago. Now that she’s made this proposal, we should co-operate and help each other; then I won’t be on my own any longer.

  “From the point of view of what’s fair and right, a helper like her will save us worry and make the mistress’ task so much easier. From a selfish point of view, I’ve made myself so unpopular that it’s time for me to back down and look about me; because if I go on being so strict I shall get myself thoroughly hated, and everybody’s smiles will hide daggers! You and I have only four eyes and two brains between us: if they once catch us off guard they can do for us. We must make the most of this chance. So long as she’s in charge, they’ll forget their past grudges against us for the time being.

  “And there’s another thing I must tell you, as you may not have spotted it for all you’re so smart. Young as Tanchun is she’s no fool, only careful how she talks. In fact, with her book-learning, she’s smarter than I am. She must know the saying ‘To catch rebels first catch the chief.’ So to set an example she’s bound to start with me. If she reverses any of my decision, don’t argue with her but back her up, the more respectfully the better. On no account protest for feat I lose face.”

  Long before the end of this speech Pinger was smiling.

  “What do you take me for a fool?” she retorted. “That’s what I’ve been doing, and here you are warning me.”

  “I was afraid you’d forget other people in your concern for me, that’s why. If that’s what you’ve been doing, it shows you’ve more sense than I have. Don’t get so worked up, though, that you forget yourself and whom you’re talking to.”

  “That’s my way,” countered Pinger. “If you don’t like it you can slap my face again. It won’t be the first time.”

  “You bitch!” Xifeng laughed. “How many times do you have to harp on that? Why be so provoking when you can see I’m ill? Come and sit down. As we’re all on our own let’s have our meal together.”

  Fenger and three or four other young maids came in then with a small table, which they set on the kang. Xifeng ate nothing but some bird’s-nest gruel and two tasty side-dishes, having cancelled her usual food for the time being. Fenger set Pinger’s normal four dishes before her and helped her to rice. Then Pinger, half kneeling on the kang and half standing, accompanied her mistress. The meal at an end, she helped Xifeng wash and rinse her mouth. Then, having given Fenger some instructions, she went back to rejoin Tanchun.

  But she found the courtyard quiet and deserted. To know the reason, read the following chapter.

  Chapter 56

  Clever Tanchun Devises a Scheme to Make a Profit and End Abuses

  Understanding Baochai Rounds It Out with a Small Act of Kindness

  After eating with Xifeng and waiting on her while she washed and then rinsed her mouth, Pinger went back to Tanchun. She found the Council Hall quiet, with a few maids and matrons waiting outside the windows. As she walked in, the three cousins were discussing family affairs and had just brought up the subject of Lai Da’s garden, where they had feasted shortly before New Year.

  Tanchun offered Pinger a foot-stool.

  “Here’s what I was thinking,” she told her. “In addition to our monthly allowance of two taels, our maids have separate allowances; but a few days ago someone reported that each of us gets an extra two taels a month for hair-oil, rouge and powder. This is like that extra allowance of eight taels for the school just now—another duplication. Admittedly it’s a small matter, involving very little money, but it doesn’t seem right. Why hasn’t this occurred to your mistress?”

  “There’s a reason,” answered Pinger. “Of course the young ladies should be provided with cosmetics every month, and they’re bought by the stewards in charge, then delivered by the matrons to us in the different apartments to be kept ready for when the young ladies need them. That’s to save us the trouble of having to send out all the time to buy them. So the stewards get the lump sum for this item, and distribute
the cosmetics each month to the different apartments.

  “As for the monthly allowance of two taels, that was never meant for this purpose. It was so that you don’t have to search for the mistresses in charge, if they’re away or too busy to be bothered when you happen to need a little money. In other words, to see that you don’t go short. That money obviously isn’t meant for cosmetics. But I’ve noticed that at least half our sisters attending in the different apartments make these purchases with their own money. I suspect it’s because the stewards aren’t supplying them on time, or because what they buy is of a poor quality.”

  “So you’ve noticed that too.” Tanchun and Li Wan smiled. “The stewards supply us all right, they wouldn’t dare stop, but always a few days late. When we hurry them they produce something inferior, goodness knows from where, which we can never use. We still have to buy our own with those two taels. We have to ask the sons of other people’s nurses or brothers to do this—they get us what we want. But if we send those servants in charge, they buy the same kind, we can’t imagine why. Could it be that they just buy us shop-soiled rejects?”

  Pinger smiled.

  “If the stewards get you that kind and they were to buy something better, of course the stewards would be annoyed and accuse them of trying to do them out of a job,” she explained. “That’s why they have to do this. They’d rather offend you ladies than the stewards. But when you send your nurses, no one can complain.”

  “It’s been worrying me,” put in Tanchun, “because we spend two lots of money but half the purchases are wasted. That means we’re spending twice as much as we should. So my first proposal is to stop that monthly allowance to the stewards. I’ve another idea too. You went with us to Lai Da’s house before New Year. How did you think his small garden compared with ours?”

  “It’s less than half the size and has far fewer trees and flowers.”

  “I had a chat with one of their girls,” continued Tanchun. “I learned to my surprise that its annual produce—apart from the flowers they wear and the bamboo shoots, vegetables, fish and prawns they eat—has been contracted for by people who pay them at least two hundred taels a year. That was how I first learned that even a snapped lotus leaf or a blade of withered grass is worth money.”

  “Truly spoken like a rich young dandy!” laughed Baochai. “Though sheltered young ladies know nothing about such things, in the course of your studies you’ve surely read Zhu Xi’s essay On Not Debasing Oneself.

  “Of course I have. Just a lot of exhortations and empty talk, I call it. Such things can’t really happen.”

  “So even Zhu Xi’s writings are empty talk, are they?” retorted Baochai. “No, every word there is true. After just two days of managing affairs you’ve become so mercenary that you accuse Zhu Xi of empty talk! I suppose if you worked outside, where you’d profit more by cutting down bigger expenses, you’d bring the same accusation against even Confucius!”

  “Well-read as you are,” countered Tanchun, “haven’t you read Jizi? Jizi said, ‘Those in a position to seek profit and emolument, or responsible for planning and calculating, may talk like Yao and Shun but disobey the precepts of Confucius and Mencius.’“

  Baochai smiled as Tanchun broke off and urged, “Go on.”

  “That’s all I want to quote. Why should I go on to make fun of myself?”

  “There’s nothing useless in this world, and when something has a use it’s worth money. I’d have thought, where a serious matter like this is concerned, you had sense enough to grasp such a self-evident truth.”

  “You call us here,” put in Li Wan, “but instead of talking business the two of you just carry on an academic discussion.”

  “This academic discussion has a bearing on our business,” replied Baochai. “If our small tasks aren’t guided by principles, they’ll get out of hand and sink to the vulgar level of the market-place.”

  After this joking they got down to business.

  Tanchun reverting to her earlier question said, “If we consider our Garden just twice the size of theirs, it should bring in double the profit—four hundred taels a year. Of course, it would be petty and unworthy of our family to concentrate solely now on making money. But if a couple of women are assigned to take charge, all the valuable things here won’t be squandered—it’s a shame to let them go to waste. Better choose a few of the most reliable old women here who know something about gardening, and let them see to things. We needn’t charge them or ask for any rent if they send in some presents every year.

  “In the first place, with people in charge of the flowers and trees, the Garden will naturally improve as time goes on and we shan’t be called on for sudden emergency measures. In the second place, there’ll be no waste either. In the third, the old women won’t be working hard all year for nothing, but will have a few perks. In the fourth, what we save on the gardeners’ and cleaners’ pay can be spent on improvements and repairs. How’s that?”

  “Very good!” Baochai, who was standing looking at the scrolls on the walls, nodded approvingly. “‘Within three years an end will be put to famine.’“

  “That’s an excellent idea,” approved Li Wan too. “If we do this the mistress is sure to be pleased. Saving money isn’t the main thing, but we shall need fewer cleaners too. If there are people in charge of the Garden’s upkeep who are allowed to make something on the side, given the authority and a profit incentive they’re bound to do their best.”

  “This proposal had to come from you, miss,” remarked Pinger. “My mistress had the same idea, but she could hardly suggest it with all you young ladies living in the Garden. Instead of improving the place, how could she propose putting people in charge to save money?”

  Baochai stepped up to her and patted her cheek.

  “Open your mouth and let me see what your teeth and tongue are made of!” she cried. “From first thing this morning till now you’ve done so much talking, and you’ve a different argument each time. You neither praise Miss Tanchun to her face nor admit that your mistress ever overlooks anything, not do you agree to whatever Miss Tanchun says; but each time she makes some proposal you have your answer pat—the same idea occurred to your mistress, too, but there was always some reason why she couldn’t suggest it.”

  “Now you’re saying that because we live here she couldn’t put people in charge so as to save money. Can’t you two see what that means? If we really let people make money out of the Garden, they naturally won’t want anyone to pick a single flower or fruit. Of course they won’t dare deny us, but they’ll be quarrelling all the time with our maids. How far-sighted and circumspect Pinger is! She neither argues back nor flatters you. If her mistress weren’t good to us, as in fact she is, hearing Pinger talk like this would surely make her repent and mend her ways.”

  “I was in a bad temper this morning,” said Tanchun. “When I heard she’d come I suddenly thought of her mistress and of how insubordinate all the servants have grown under her management. So the sight of Pinger made me even angrier. But she came in like a mouse shrinking from a cat, and looked so pathetic all the time she stood there; and then the way she talked! Instead of reminding me how good her mistress is to me, she spoke of my consideration for her mistress. That not only stopped me being angry but made me so ashamed I felt like crying. I thought: a girl like myself, who’s reduced to such a state that nobody cares for me—what can I do for anyone else?” At this point she broke down again and wept.

  Her distress reminded Li Wan and the others of all the instances of Concubine Zhao’s outrageous behaviour, which had involved Tanchun, making her embarrassed to face Lady Wang. They could not help shedding tears of sympathy.

  “Don’t talk like that,” they urged. “What does it matter? Now that we’re free, let’s work out a couple of ways to make a profit and get rid of past abuses, so as to prove ourselves worthy of the mistress’ trust.”

  “I understand,” put in Pinger hastily. “Just trust this business to some reliable
people of your own choosing, miss, and that will be that.”

  “That’s all very well, but we must consult your mistress first,” insisted Tanchun. “We’ve already overstepped our authority, scrimping and scraping, right and left, and I wouldn’t suggest this if she weren’t so understanding. If she were officious or spiteful, I’d never have dreamed of it either—it would look as if I were trying to show her up. We certainly must consult her.”

  “In that case I’ll go and tell her,” said Pinger, and with that she went off.

  After a while she came back to tell them gaily, “I said there was no need to go. It’s such a good idea, of course my mistress approves.”

  Then Tanchun and Li Wan asked for a list of the names of all the elderly women in the Garden, and after some discussion made a tentative choice of a few. These women, summoned and told the plan in outline by Li Wan, agreed to it readily.

  “Just leave that bamboo plot to me,” said one. “In a year’s time there’ll be another plot. Then, apart from supplying the household with bamboo shoots, I can hand in some money too.”

  Another said, “Let me have the paddy fields. I can keep all the pet birds, big and small, supplied with grain the whole year round without asking the stewards for any, and pay something over and above that too.”

  Before Tanchun could reply, it was announced that a doctor had come to the Garden to see a young lady, and the matrons should go to escort him in.

  “Even if a hundred of you were to go to meet the doctor it wouldn’t look proper,” objected Pinger. “Surely there are chief stewards’ wives to take him in?”

  “Yes, Mrs. Wu and Mrs. Shan,” the messenger answered. “They’re waiting in the southwest corner by the Gate of Embroidery.”

  Then Pinger let the matter drop. And as soon as the women had gone Tanchun asked Baochai her opinion.

  “‘One who is zealous at the start may grow lax before the finish,’“ quoted Baochai smiling. “Fine speech may hide a hankering after profit.”