A Dream of Red Mansion

by Cao Xueqin

  Puzzled by this outburst Xifeng replied, “Don’t worry. It’s not difficult to prepare a fine funeral. Though the master wants us to economize, we’ve a position to keep up. Even if we spend the whole sum on this, that’s only right.”

  “The old lady’s last words were that anything she had left was for us. If you don’t have enough, madam, just use this to make up the deficit. Whatever the master says, he can’t go against her last wishes. Besides, he was there, wasn’t he, and heard how the old lady shared things out.”

  “You’ve always been a sensible girl. Why are you carrying on like this now?” Xifeng asked.

  “I can’t help worrying, because the Elder Mistress lets things slide and the master’s afraid of being ostentatious. If you share his view, madam, that for a family that’s been raided to have a splendid funeral may lead to another raid, and don’t care about the old lady, what’s to be done? I’m just a bondmaid and this doesn’t concern me; but our family’s reputation is at stake!”

  “I understand. Don’t worry. I’ll see to it.”

  Then Yuanyang thanked Xifeng profusely for her goodness.

  Xifeng left thinking, “What an odd creature Yuanyang is! I wonder what’s on her mind? By rights the old lady should have a handsome funeral. Well, never mind her. We’ll do it according to our family tradition.” She sent for Lai Wang’s wife to ask Master Lian to come in.

  “What do you want me for?” inquired Jia Lian when presently he entered. “Just look after your end of things inside the house. All decisions will be made anyway by the Second Master. It’s up to us to do whatever we’re told.”

  “So you take that line too?” said Xifeng. “Apparently Yuanyang guessed right.”

  “What did she say?”

  Xifeng described how Yuanyang had asked her over and what she had said.

  “What they say doesn’t count,” scoffed Jia Lian. “Just now the Second Master sent for me and said, ‘Of course we must do things in style for the old lady. People in the know are aware that she provided for her own funeral; those not in the know may think that we kept some money tucked away and are still well-off. But if this silver of hers isn’t used, who wants it? It should still all be spent on her. The old lady’s from the south, where there is a graveyard, but no houses for offering sacrifices. As her coffin’s to go back to the south, we should keep some money to build houses in the ancestral graveyard and use the remainder to buy a few acres of fields to provide for sacrifices. Even if we don’t return south ourselves we can let some poor relations live there, to sacrifice to her during festivals and to see to the upkeep of the grave.’ Don’t you agree that that’s a sound idea? So how can we spend the whole sum on the funeral?”

  “Have they issued the silver yet?”

  “Who’s seen any silver? All I know is that after my mother heard this she thoroughly approved, telling the Second Master and Mistress that it was a good idea. So what can I do? Now the men putting up the funeral sheds outside want several hundred taels, but no silver has been issued. When I went to draw some, they said they had the money but we should get the workmen to finish the job before settling accounts with them. Just think, all those servants with money have skedaddled. When we call the roll, some are said to be on sick leave, others to have gone to the farm. Those few left here, unable to leave, are just out to make money. Who’s going to advance us any?”

  Xifeng was struck speechless. Eventually she asked, “Then how are we to manage?”

  Just then a maid came in and said, “The Elder Mistress wants to ask you, madam, why everything’s still topsy-turvy though today is the third day. After the sacrifice, why keep relatives waiting around? She called several times for the meal before the dishes came—without any rice. What way is this to manage?”

  Xifeng at once went to expedite the servants and manage to get a meal of sorts served to the guests. As ill luck would have it, many guests had come, but all the servants were so apathetic that Xifeng had to see to things herself. Then in her concern she hurried out and made Lai Wang’s wife summon all the serving-women to assign them different tasks. The women accepted these but made no move.

  “What time is it?” Xifeng demanded. “Why haven’t you prepared the sacrificial offerings?”

  “That’s easily done,” they answered. “But first we have to be issued with supplies.”

  “You stupid creatures!” fumed Xifeng. “Of course you’ll get what you need for the jobs you’re given.”

  The women went off then reluctantly, while Xifeng hurried to the main apartment to ask Their Ladyships’ permission to fetch what would be needed. She could hardly do this, however, in front of so many guests. As it was nearing sunset, she had to find Yuanyang and tell her which of the old lady’s things she wanted.

  “Why ask me?” replied Yuanyang. “Didn’t Master Lian pawn them that year? Has he ever redeemed them?”

  “We don’t need gold or silver, just an ordinary dinner service.”

  “Hasn’t that gone to Lady Xing and Madam You?”

  Xifeng realized that this was so and went to Lady Wang’s quarters to find Yuchuan and Caiyun. Having got what she required from them she hastily made Caiming list these things, then handed them over to the serving-women.

  Xifeng had looked so flustered that Yuanyang did not like to call her back. She wondered, “Why is she bungling things like this now when she used to be such a good manager? In the last few days things have been at sixes and sevens. The old lady’s love for her was thrown away!”

  She was unaware that Lady Xing had concurred with Jia Zheng’s proposal because she had been worrying about her family’s future and was eager to put something by. Besides, as the old lady’s funeral should have been superintended by the senior branch of the family, although Jia She was away, each time there was some decision to make punctilious Jia Zheng would say, “Ask the Elder Mistress.”

  Lady Xing had always considered Xifeng extravagant and Jia Lian unreliable and would therefore not let any money out of her hands. Yuanyang, assuming that the funeral expenses had already been issued, suspected Xifeng of floundering because she did not take the business seriously. Accordingly she kept weeping and wailing before the old lady’s coffin.

  When Lady Xing heard these implied reproaches, instead of blaming herself for not facilitating Xifeng’s work she said, “It’s true, Xifeng isn’t putting herself out.”

  That evening Lady Wang summoned Xifeng and told her, “Though our family’s in these straits, we must keep up appearances. I’ve noticed that in the last few days our visitors haven’t been properly looked after. I suppose you didn’t give instructions for this. You must bestir yourself a bit more for us!”

  Xifeng was at a loss for words. She wanted to explain that there was no silver to meet their expenses, but the silver was not her concern while this charge against her was one of negligence. Not venturing to defend herself she remained silent.

  Lady Xing put in from the side, “By rights we daughters-in-law, not you young people, should see to these things. But as we can’t leave the coffin we entrusted them to you. You mustn’t trifle with your task.”

  Xifeng flushed crimson and was about to answer when music struck up outside—it was time for the dusk burning of sacrificial paper. As everyone had to mourn now she could say nothing; and later, when she came back to explain the real situation to them, Lady Wang urged her to go and see to things.

  “We’ll hold the fort here,” she said. “Run along to make preparations for tomorrow.”

  Xifeng had to withdraw then, bottling up her resentment, and summoned all the matrons to give them instructions.

  “Take pity on me, nannies!” she pleaded. “I’ve been scolded by their Ladyships because you’ve not pulled together, making our family look ridiculous. You must try a bit harder tomorrow!”

  “This isn’t the first time you’ve run things, madam,” they said. “We wouldn’t dream of disobeying you. But this time our mistresses are too pernickety! Just ta
ke the question of meals: some want to eat here, others in their own quarters; when we fetch in one lady, another refuses to come. What with all this, how can we see to everything? Do persuade those ladies’ maids, madam, not to pick so many faults.”

  “The most troublesome are the old lady’s maids,” said Xifeng. “Their Ladyships’ are a difficult lot too—how can I tell them off?”

  “When you took charge in the East Mansion, madam, you beat or cursed anyone you pleased,” they countered. “You were so sharp, who dared to disobey you? Can’t you control these minxes today?” Xifeng sighed, “When I was given that East Mansion job, though the mistress was there she didn’t like to find fault. Now this business concerns the others as well as ourselves, so everyone feels free to criticize. Besides, the money outside isn’t issued promptly. When something’s needed, for example, for the funeral sheds and we send out for it, it isn’t forthcoming—what can I do about it?”

  “Isn’t Master Lian in charge outside?” they countered. “Can’t he attend to such things?”

  “Don’t tell me he’s in charge! He’s in a fix too. In the first place, the silver isn’t in his hands and he has to put in a request for every purchase. He has no ready money.”

  “Isn’t the sum the old lady left in his hands?”

  “Go and ask the stewards presently—they’ll tell you.”

  “No wonder then!” they said. “We’ve heard the men outside complain, ‘A big do like this, yet there’s nothing in it for us except hard work!’ So how can you expect people to pull together?”

  “Never mind that now but concentrate on the work in hand. Any more complaints from above and I shan’t let you off!”

  “How dare anyone grumble, whatever you want done, madam? But it’s really hard for us to please everyone with each of the mistresses giving different orders.”

  At a loss, Xifeng pleaded, “Good nannies, at least help me out tomorrow! We’ll talk things over again after I’ve made the ladies’ maids see sense.”

  Then the serving-women left.

  Xifeng, seething with resentment, brooded with mounting anger till dawn, when she wanted to discipline the maids of the various apartments, yet feared that might offend Lady Xing; and she could not complain to Lady Wang, whom Lady Xing had turned against her. When the maids saw that Their Ladyships were not backing Xifeng up, they treated her with even less respect.

  Pinger alone spoke up for her, explaining, “Of course Madam Lian wants to do things in style, but the master and Their Ladyships have forbidden any extravagance, which makes her unable to satisfy everybody.” By stressing this she calmed them down a little.

  Now they had Buddhists chanting sutras and Taoists saying masses, with endless mourning, sacrifices and meals for guests; but they were so niggardly that no one would buckle to and the service was slipshod. Although titled ladies kept arriving, Xifeng had no time to attend to them, so busy was she supervising the servants. As soon as she summoned one, another slipped away. She would first fume at them then appeal to their better nature; and in this way she managed to send off batch after batch of guests after entertaining them all anyhow. Of course Yuanyang and the others thought it disgraceful, and even Xifeng herself was mortified.

  Though Lady Xing was the elder daughter-in-law, she turned a blind eye to everything else, simply displaying her filial piety by an appearance of overwhelming grief. Lady Wang had to follow suit, and naturally so did the rest. Li Wan, the only one to appreciate Xifeng’s dilemma, dared not speak up for her.

  She just sighed to herself, “As the saying goes, though the peony is lovely it needs the support of green leaves. With Their Ladyships letting her down, who else is going to help poor Xifeng? If Tanchun were here it wouldn’t be so bad. Now she has only a few of her own servants to make shift as best they can, and they keep complaining behind her back that they’re not making a cent or getting any credit! The master harps on filial piety but doesn’t know much about management. How can a big affair like this be properly conducted without a certain outlay? Poor Xifeng! She’s been to such pains these few years to win a reputation, and now it looks as if she’s going to lose it over this funeral!”

  She made time to summon her own maids and told them, “Don’t follow the example of those others and start plaguing Madam Lian too. You mustn’t think you can get by by wearing mourning and keeping watch by the coffin for a few days. If you see them unable to cope, you should lend a hand. This is the affair of us all: it’s everybody’s duty to help out.”

  Some of the servants who had genuine respect for Li Wan agreed, “You’re quite right, madam, and we’d never dream of making trouble. But Sister Yuanyang and the others seem to hold Madam Lian to blame.”

  “I’ve spoken to Yuanyang too,” replied Li Wan. “I’ve explained to her that it’s not that Madam Lian doesn’t take the old lady’s funeral seriously, but she doesn’t control the money, and how can the smartest daughter-in-law make gruel without rice? Now that Yuanyang understands she’s stopped blaming her. Still, it’s extraordinary the way Yuanyang has altered. When she was the old lady’s favourite, she didn’t try to take advantage of it; now that the old lady’s gone and she has no backing, she seems to have changed for the worse. I used to worry what would become of her. Luckily the Elder Master isn’t at home now, so she’s escaped his clutches. Otherwise, what could she have done?”

  At this point Jia Lan came up and said, “Mother, it’s time to go to bed. So many visitors all day long must have tired you; do have a rest now. I haven’t touched my books these days, so I’m very glad that today grandfather told me to sleep at home—I must review one or two books, so as not to have forgotten everything by the time the mourning is over.”

  “Good child!” said Li Wan. “Of course it’s good to study, but today you’d better rest. Wait till after the funeral.”

  “If you’re going to sleep, mother, I’ll curl up in my quilt too and think over my lessons.”

  The others all approved, “There’s a good boy! Such a little lad, yet when he’s a moment to spare he thinks of his books. How different from Master Bao who’s still so childish even after his marriage. How uneasy he looks these days kneeling by his father; and the moment the master leaves he rushes off to find Madam Bao and whisper some nonsense to her. When she ignores him he looks for Miss Baoqin, who tries to steer clear of him too. Miss Xing hardly ever talks to him either. The only ones nice to him are his cousins Xiluan and Sijie, for ever calling him ‘cousin’ this and ‘cousin’ that. We don’t believe Master Bao thinks of anything except fooling about with young ladies. He hadn’t lived up to the old lady’s expectations. She always doted on him, yet he can’t hold a candle to our Master Lan. You won’t have to worry about his future, madam!”

  “It’s too early to say,” replied Li Wan. “And who knows what will have become of our family by the time he grows up? But what’s your opinion of young Master Huan?”

  “That one’s even worse!” they exclaimed. “He has eyes like a real monkey, darting shiftily this way and that. Though he’s supposed to wail by the coffin, when the ladies come he spends all his time peeping at them round the curtain before it.”

  “Actually he’s no longer a child,” she said. “The other day I heard they were thinking of finding him a wife, but now that will have to wait. Still, our family’s too big for us to sort out everyone’s problems, so let’s not gossip about them. And there’s something else I meant to ask. The funeral procession is to be the day after tomorrow. Are carriages ready for all the different households?”

  “Madam Lian seems so distracted these days that we haven’t seen her issuing instructions. Yesterday we heard from the men outside that Master Lian told Master Qiang to see to this. As our family doesn’t have enough carriages or drivers, he says we’ll have to borrow some from relatives.”

  “Can carriages be borrowed?” asked Li Wan with a smile.

  “You must be joking, madam! Of course they can. But that day all our relatives will
be using theirs, so borrowing may be hard and we’ll probably have to hire some.”

  “We shall have to hire some for the servants, but how can the ladies take hired mourning carriages?”

  “The Elder Mistress has no carriage now. Neither have Madam You and Master Rong’s wife from the East Mansion,” they reminded her. “What can they do but hire some?”

  Li Wan sighed, “In the old days, when female relatives called on us in hired carriages, we all thought it scandalous. Now it’s our turn. Tell your husbands tomorrow to get our carriages and horses ready as early as possible, to avoid a jam.”

  The serving-women assented and withdrew.

  Since Shi Xiangyun’s husband was ill, she had called only once after the old lady’s death; but she felt she must attend the funeral which she reckoned would be held in two days’ time. In any case, her husband’s illness had proved to be consumption, so that he was in no immediate danger. She therefore came over the day before the wake, when she recalled the old lady’s goodness to her, then thought of her own wretched fate. She had only just married a talented, handsome husband with a cheerful disposition, but then he had contracted this fatal illness which might any day carry him off. In distress she wept half the night, despite the attempts of Yuanyang and the others to console her.