Chapter 54 · The stupid secondary wife, dame Chao, needlessly loses her temper and insults her own daughter, T'an Ch'un. The perverse servant-girls are so full of malice that they look down contemptuously on their youthful mistresses.
bustle of the new year festivities, lady Feng who, with the most
arduous duties she had had to fulfil both before and after the new
year, had found little time to take proper care of herself, got a
miscarriage and could not attend to the management of domestic affairs.
Day after day two and three doctors came and prescribed for her. But
lady Feng had ever accustomed herself to be hardy, so although unable
to go out of doors, she nevertheless devised the ways and means for
everything, and made the various arrangements she deemed necessary, and
whatever concern suggested itself to her mind, she entrusted to P'ing
Erh to lay before Madame Wang. But however much people advised her to
be careful, she would not lend an ear to them. Madame Wang felt as if
she had been deprived of her right arm. And as she alone had not
sufficient energy to see to everything, she bestowed her own attention
upon such important affairs, as turned up, and entrusted, for the time
being, all miscellaneous domestic matters to the co-operation of Li
Wan.
Li Wan had at all times held virtue at a high price, and set but little
value on talents of any kind, so that she, as a matter of course,
displayed leniency to those who were placed under her. Madame Wang
accordingly bade T'an Ch'un combine with Li Wan in the management of
the household. "In a month," she argued, "lady Feng will be getting all
right again, and then you can once more hand over charge to her."
Little, however, though one would think it, lady Feng was endowed with
a poor physique. From her youth up, moreover, she had not known how to
husband her health; and emulation and contentiousness had, more than
anything else, combined to undermine her vital energies. Hence it was
that although her complaint was a simple miscarriage, it had really,
after all, been the outcome of loss of vigour. After a month symptoms
of emissions of blood began also to show themselves. And
notwithstanding her reluctance to utter what she felt every one, at the
sight of her sallow and emaciated face, readily concluded that she was
not nursing herself as well as she should.
Madame Wang therefore enjoined her merely to take her medicines and
look to herself with due care; and she would not allow her to disquiet
her mind about the least thing. But (lady Feng) herself also gave way
to misgivings lest her illness should assume some grave phase, and much
though she laughed with one and all, she was ever mindful to steal time
to attend to her health, feeling inwardly vexed at not being able to
soon get back her old strength again. But she had, as it happened, to
dose herself with medicines and to nurse herself for three whole
months, before she gradually began to rally and before the discharges
stopped by degrees. But we will abstain from any reference to these
details which pertain to the future, suffice it now to add that though
Madame Wang noticed her improved state, (she thought it) impossible for
the time being for T'an Ch'un and Li Wan to resign their charge. But so
fidgetty was she lest with the large number of inmates in the garden
proper control should not be exercised that she specially sent for
Pao-ch'ai and begged of her to keep an eye over every place, explaining
to her that the old matrons were of no earthly use, for whenever they
could obtain any leisure, they drank and gambled; and slept during
broad daylight, while they played at cards during the hours of night.
"I know all about their doings," (she said). "When that girl Feng is
well enough to go out, they have some little fear. But they're bound at
present to consult again their own convenience. Yet you, dear child,
are one in whom I can repose complete trust. Your brother and your
female cousins are, on the one hand, young; and I can, on the other,
afford no spare time; so do exert yourself on my behalf for a couple of
days, and exercise proper supervision. And should anything unexpected
turn up, just come and tell it to me. Don't wait until our old lady
inquires about it, as I shall then find myself in a corner with nothing
to say in my defence. If those servants aren't on their good behaviour,
mind you blow them up; and if they don't listen to you, come and lay
your complaint before me; for it will be best not to let anything
assume a serious aspect."
Pao-ch'ai listened to her appeal and felt under the necessity of
volunteering to undertake the charge.
The season was about the close of spring, so Tai-yü got her cough back
again. But Hsiang-yün was likewise laid up in the Heng Wu Yüan, as she
too was affected by the weather, and day after day she saw numberless
doctors and took endless medicines.
T'an Ch'un and Li Wan lived apart, but as they had of late assumed
joint management of affairs, it was, unlike former years, extremely
inconvenient even for the servants to go backwards and forwards to make
their reports. They consequently resolved that they should meet early
every day in the small three-roomed reception-hall, at the south side
of the garden gate, to transact what business there was, and that their
morning meal over, they should after noon return again to their
quarters.
This three-roomed hall had originally been got ready at the time of the
visit of the imperial consort to her parents, to accommodate the
attendants and eunuchs. This visit over, it proved, therefore, no
longer of use, and the old matrons simply came to it every night to
keep watch. But mild weather had now set in, and any complete fittings
were quite superfluous. All that could be seen about amounted to a few
small pieces of furniture just sufficient for them to make themselves
comfortable with. Over this hall was likewise affixed a placard, with
the inscription in four characters:
"Perfected philanthropy, published virtue!"
Yet the place was generally known among the domestics as 'the
discuss-matters-hall.' To this hall, (Li Wan and T'an Ch'un) would
daily adjourn at six in the morning, and leave it at noon, and the
wives of the managers and other servants, who had any matters to lay
before them, came and went in incessant strings.
When the domestics heard that Li Wan would assume sole control, each
and all felt secretly elated; for as Li Wan had always been
considerate, forbearing and loth to inflict penalties, she would be, of
course, they thought, easier to put off than lady Feng. Even when T'an
Ch'un was added, they again remembered that she was only a youthful
unmarried girl and that she too had ever shown herself goodnatured and
kindly to a degree, so none of them worried their minds about her, and
they became considerably more indolent than when they had to deal with
lady Feng. But after the expiry of three or four days several concerns
passed through her hands, which gave them an opportunity to gradually
find out that T'an Ch'un did not, in smartness and thoroughness, yield
to lady Feng, and that the only difference between them was that she
was soft in speech and gentle in disposition. By a remarkable
coincidence, princes, dukes, marquises, earls, and hereditary officials
arrived for consecutive days from various parts; all of whom were, if
not the relatives of the Jung and Ning mansions, at least their old
friends. There were either those who had obtained transfers on
promotion, or others who had been degraded; either those, who had
married, or those who had gone into mourning, and Madame Wang had so
much congratulating and condoling, receiving and escorting to do that
she had no time to attend to any entertaining. There was therefore less
than ever any one in the front part to look after things. So while
(T'an Ch'un and Li Wan) spent their whole days in the hall, Pao-ch'ai
tarried all day in the drawing-rooms, to keep an eye over what was
going on; and they only betook themselves back to their quarters after
Madame Wang's return. Of a night, they whiled away their leisure hours
by doing needlework; but they would, previous to retiring to sleep, get
into their chairs, and, taking along with them the servants, whose duty
it was to be on night watch in the garden, and other domestics as well,
they visited each place on their round. Such was the control exercised
by these three inmates that signs were not wanting to prove that
greater severity was observed than in the days when the management
devolved on lady Feng. To this reason must be assigned the fact that
all the servants attached inside as well as outside cherished a secret
grudge against them. "No sooner," they insinuated, "has one patrolling
ogre come than they add three more cerberean sort of spring josses so
that even at night we've got less time than ever to sip a cup of wine
and indulge in a romp!"
On the day that Madame Wang was going to a banquet at the mansion of
the Marquis of Chin Hsiang, Li Wan and T'an Ch'un arranged their
coiffure and performed their ablutions at an early hour; and after
waiting upon her until she went out of doors, they repaired into the
hall and installed themselves in their seats. But just as they were
sipping their tea, they espied Wu Hsin-teng's wife walk in. "Mrs.
Chao's brother, Chao Kuo-chi," she observed, "departed this life
yesterday; the tidings have already been reported to our old mistress
and our lady, who said that it was all right, and bade me tell you,
Miss."
At the close of this announcement, she respectfully dropped her arms
against her body, and stood aloof without adding another word. The
servants, who came at this season to lay their reports before (T'an
Ch'un and Li Wan), mustered no small number. But they all endeavoured
to find out how their two new mistresses ran the household; for as long
they managed things properly, one and all willingly resolved to respect
them, but in the event of the least disagreement or improper step, not
only did they not submit to them, but they also spread, the moment they
put their foot outside the second gate, numberless jokes on their
account and made fun of them. Wu Hsin-teng's wife had thus devised an
experiment in her own mind. Had she had to deal with lady Feng, she
would have long ago made an attempt to show off her zeal by proposing
numerous alternatives and discovering various bygone precedents, and
then allowed lady Feng to make her own choice and take action; but, in
this instance, she looked with such disdain on Li Wan, on account of
her simplicity, and on T'an Ch'un, on account of her youthfulness, that
she volunteered only a single sentence, in order to put both these
ladies to the test, and see what course they would be likely to adopt.
"What shall we do?" T'an Ch'un asked Li Wan.
Li Wan reflected for a while. "The other day," she rejoined, "that Hsi
Jen's mother died, I heard that she was given forty taels. So now give
her forty taels as well and have done!"
Upon hearing this proposal, Wu Hsin-teng's wife eagerly expressed her
acquiescence, by uttering a yes; and taking over the permit she was
going on her way at once.
"Come back," shouted T'an Ch'un.
"Wu Hsing-teng's wife had perforce to retrace her footsteps.
"Wait, don't get the money yet," T'an Ch'un remarked. "I want to ask
you something. Some of the old secondary wives, attached years back to
our venerable senior's rooms, lived inside the establishment; others
outside; there were these two distinctions between them. Now if any of
them died at home, how much was allowed them? And how much was allotted
to such as died outside? Tell us what was given in either case for our
guidance."
As soon as Wu Hsin-teng's wife was asked this question, every detail
bearing on the subject slipped from her memory. Hastily forcing a
smile, "This is," she replied, "nothing of any such great consequence.
Whether much or little be allowed, who'll ever venture to raise a
quarrel about it?"
T'an Ch'un then smiled. "This is all stuff and nonsense!" she
exclaimed. "My idea is that it would be better to give a hundred taels.
For if we don't comply with what's right, we shall, not to speak of
your ridiculing us, find it also a hard job by and bye to face your
mistress Secunda."
"Well, in that case," laughed Wu Hsin-teng's wife, "I'll go and look up
the old accounts. I can't recollect anything about them just at this
moment."
"You're quite an old hand in the management of affairs," T'an Ch'un
observed with a significant smile, "and can't you remember, but come
instead to perplex us? Whenever you've had anything of the kind to lay
before your lady Secunda, have you also had to go first and look it up?
But if this has been the practice, lady Feng can't be looked upon as
being such a dreadful creature. One could very well call her lenient
and kind. Yet don't you yet hurry to go and hunt them up and bring them
to me to see? If we dilly-dally another day, they won't run you people
down for your coarse-mindedness, but we will seem to have been driven
to our wits' ends!"
Wu Hsin-teng's wife got quite scarlet in the face. Promptly twisting
herself round, she quitted the hall; while the whole bevy of married
women stretched out their tongues significantly.
During her absence, other matters were reported. But in a little while,
Wu Hsin-teng's wife returned with the old accounts. On inspection, T'an
Ch'un found that for a couple of secondary wives, who had lived in the
establishment, twenty-four taels had been granted, and that for two,
whose quarters had been outside, forty taels had in each case been
allowed. Besides these two, others were mentioned, who had lived
outside the mansion; to one of whom a hundred taels had been given, and
to the other, sixty taels. Under these two records, the reasons were
assigned. In the one case, the coffins of father and mother had had to
be removed from another province, and sixty taels extra had
consequently been granted. In the other, an additional twenty taels had
been allowed, as a burial-place had to be purchased at the time.
T'an Ch'un handed the accounts to Li Wan for her perusal.
"Give her twenty taels," readily suggested T'an Ch'un. "Leave these
accounts here for us to examine minutely."
Wu Hsin-teng's wife then walked away. But unexpectedly Mrs. Chao
entered the hall. Li Wan and T'an Ch'un speedily pressed her to take a
seat.
Mrs. Chao then broke the silence. "All the inmates of these rooms have
trampled me under heel," she said, "but never mind! Yet, my child, just
ponder, it is only fair that you should take my part."
While ventilating her grievances, her eyes got moist, her nose watered,
and she began to sob.
"To whom are you alluding Mrs. Chao?" T'an Ch'un hastily inquired. "I
can't really make out what you're driving at. Who tramples you under
foot? Speak out and I'll take up your cudgels."
"You're now trampling me down yourself, young lady," Mrs. Chao
observed.
"And to whom can I go and tell my grievance?"
T'an Ch'un, at these words, jumped up with alacrity. "I never would
presume to do any such thing," she protested.
Li Wan too vehemently sprung to her feet to proffer her some good
counsel.
"Pray seat yourselves, both of you," Mrs. Chao cried, "and listen to
what I have to say. I've had, like simmering oil, to consume away in
these rooms to this advanced age. There's also your brother besides.
Yet I can't compare myself now even to Hsi Jen, and what credit do I
enjoy? But you haven't as well any face, so don't let's speak of
myself."
"It was really on account of this," T'an Ch'un smiled, "that I said
that
I didn't presume to disregard right and to violate propriety."
While she spoke, she resumed her seat, and taking up the accounts, she
turned them over for Mrs. Chao to glance at, after which she read them
out to her for her edification. "These are old customs," she proceeded,
"enforced by the seniors of the family, and every one complies with
them, and could I ever, pray, have changed them? These will hold good
not only with Hsi Jen; but even when by and bye Huan-erh takes a
concubine, the same course will naturally be adopted as in the case of
Hsi Jen. This is no question for any large quarrels or small disputes,
and no mention should be made about face or no face. She's our Madame
Wang's servant-girl, and I've dealt with her according to a
long-standing precedent. Those who say that I've taken suitable action
will come in for our ancestors' bounty and our lady's bounty as well.
But should any one uphold that I've adopted an unfair course, that
person is devoid of all common sense and totally ignorant of what a
blessing means. The only thing she can do is to foster as much
resentment as she chooses. Our lady, Madame Wang, may even give a
present of a house to any one; what credit is that to me? Again, she
may not give a single cash, but even that won't imply any loss of face,
as far as I am concerned. What I have to say is that as Madame Wang is
away from home, you should quietly look after yourself a bit. What's
the good of worrying and fretting? Our lady is extremely fond of me;
and, if, at different times, a chilliness has sprung up on her part,
it's because you, Mrs. Chao, have again and again been officious. Had I
been a man and able to have gone abroad, I would long ago have run away
and started some business. I would then have had something of my own to
attend to. But, as it happens, I am a girl, so that I can't even
recklessly utter so much as a single remark. Madame Wang is well aware
of it in her heart. And it's now because she entertains a high opinion
of me that she recently bade me assume the charge of domestic affairs.
But before I've had time enough to do a single good act, here you come,
Mrs. Chao, to lay down the law. If this reaches Madame Wang's ear, I
fear I shall get into trouble. She won't let me exercise any control,
and then I shall, in real earnest, come in for no face. But even you,
Mrs. Chao, will then actually lose countenance."
Reasoning with her, she so little could repress her tears that they
rolled down her cheeks.
Mrs. Chao had not a word more to say to refute her arguments with. "If
Madame Wang loves you," she simply responded, "there's still more
reason why you should have drawn us into her favour. (Instead of that),
all you think about is to try and win Madame Wang's affections, and you
forget all about us."
"How ever did I forget you?" T'an Ch'un exclaimed. "How would you have
me drag you into favour? Go and ask every one of them, and you'll see
what mistress is indifferent to any one, who exerts her energies and
makes herself useful, and what worthy person requires being drawn into
favour?"
Li Wan, who stood by, did her best to pacify them with her advice.
"Mrs. Chao," she argued, "don't lose your temper! Neither should you
feel any ill-will against this young lady of yours. Had she even at
heart every good intention to lend you a hand, how could she put it
into words?"
"This worthy senior dame," T'an Ch'un impatiently interposed, "has also
grown quite dense! Whom could I drag into favour? Why, in what family,
do the young ladies give a lift to slave-girls? Their qualities as well
as defects should all alike be well known to you people. And what have
they got to do with me?"
Mrs. Chao was much incensed. "Who tells you," she asked, "to give a
lift to any one? Were it not that you looked after the house, I
wouldn't have come to inquire anything of you. But anything you may
suggest is right; so had you, now that your maternal uncle is dead,
granted twenty or thirty taels in excess, is it likely that Madame Wang
would not have given you her consent? It's evident that our Madame Wang
is a good woman and that it's you people who are mean and stingy.
Unfortunately, however, her ladyship has with all her bounty no
opportunity of exercising it. You could, my dear girl, well set your
mind at ease. You wouldn't, in this instance, have had to spend any of
your own money; and at your marriage by and bye, I would still have
borne in mind the exceptional regard you had shown the Chao family. But
now that you've got your full plumage, you've forgotten your
extraction, and chosen a lofty branch to fly to."
Before T'an Ch'un had heard her to the end, she flew into such a rage
that her face blanched; and choking for breath, she gasped and panted.
Sobbing, she asked the while: "Who's my maternal uncle? My maternal
uncle was at the end of the year promoted to be High Commissioner of
the Nine Provinces! How can another maternal uncle have cropped up?
It's because I've ever shown that reverence enjoined by the rites that
other relatives have now more than ever turned up. If what you say be
the case, how is it that every day that Huan-erh goes out, Chao Kuo-chi
too stands up, and follows him to school? Why doesn't he put on the
airs of an uncle? What's the reason that he doesn't? Who isn't aware of
the fact that I'm born of a concubine? Would it require two or three
months' time to trace my extraction? But the fact is you've come to
kick up all this hullaballoo for fear lest people shouldn't be alive to
the truth; and with the express design of making it public all over the
place! But I wonder who of us two will make the other lose face?
Luckily, I've got my wits about me; for had I been a stupid creature
ignorant of good manners, I would long ago have lost all patience."
Li Wan was much concerned, but she had to continue to exhort them to
desist. But Mrs. Chao proceeded with a long rigmarole until a servant
was unexpectedly heard to report that lady Secunda had sent Miss Ping
to deliver a message. Mrs. Chao caught the announcement, and eventually
held her peace, when they espied P'ing erh making her appearance. Mrs.
Chao hastily forced a saturnine smile, and motioned to her to take a
seat. "Is your lady any better?" she went on to inquire with vehemence.
"I was just thinking of going to look her up; but I could find no
leisure!"
Upon seeing P'ing Erh enter, Li Wan felt prompted to ask her the object
of her visit.
"My lady says," P'ing Erh smilingly responded, "that she apprehends,
now that Mrs. Chao's brother is dead, that your ladyship and you, miss,
are not aware of the existence of an old precedent. According to the
ordinary practice no more need be given than twenty taels; but she now
requests you, miss, to consider what would be best to do; if even you
add a good deal more, it will do well enough."
T'an Ch'un at once wiped away all traces of tears. "What's the use of
another addition, when there's no valid reason for it?" she promptly
demurred. "Who has again been twenty months in the womb? Or is it
forsooth any one who's gone to the wars, and managed to escape with his
life, carrying his master on his back? Your mistress is certainly very
ingenious! She tells me to disregard the precedent, in order that she
should pose as a benefactress! She wishes to take the money, which
Madame Wang spurns, so as to reap the pleasure of conferring favours!
Just you tell her that I could not presume to add or reduce anything,
or even to adopt any reckless decision. Let her add what she wants and
make a display of bounty. When she gets better and is able to come out,
she can effect whatever additions she fancies."
The moment P'ing Erh arrived, she obtained a fair insight (into lady
Feng's designs), so when she heard the present remarks, she grasped a
still more correct idea of things. But perceiving an angry look about
T'an Ch'un's face, she did not have the temerity to behave towards her
as she would, had she found her in the high spirits of past days. All
she did therefore was to stand aloof with her arms against her sides
and to wait in rigid silence. Just at that moment, however, Pao-ch'ai
dropped in, on her return from the upper rooms. T'an Ch'un quickly rose
to her feet, and offered her a seat. But before they had had time to
exchange any words, a married woman likewise came to report some
business.
But as T'an Ch'un had been having a good cry, three or four young maids
brought her a basin, towel, and hand-glass and other articles of
toilette. T'an Ch'un was at the moment seated cross-legged, on a low
wooden couch, so the maid with the basin had, when she drew near, to
drop on both her knees and lift it high enough to bring it within
reach. The other two girls prostrated themselves next to her and handed
the towels and the rest of the toilet things, which consisted of a
looking-glass, rouge and powder. But P'ing Erh noticed that Shih Shu
was not in the room, and approaching T'an Ch'un with hasty step, she
tucked up her sleeves for her and unclasped her bracelets. Seizing also
a large towel from the hands of one of the maids, she covered the lapel
on the front part of T'an Ch'un's dress; whereupon T'an Ch'un put out
her hands, and washed herself in the basin.
"My lady and miss," the married woman observed, "may it please you to
pay what has been spent in the family school for Mr. Chia Huan and Mr..
Chia Lan during the year."
P'ing Erh was the first to speak. "What are you in such a hurry for?"
she cried. "You've got your eyes wide open, and must be able to see our
young lady washing her face; instead of coming forward to wait on her,
you start talking! Do you also behave in this blind sort of way in the
presence of your lady Secunda? This young lady is, it's true, generous
and lenient, but I'll go and report you to your mistress. I'll simply
tell her that you people have no eye for Miss T'an Ch'un. But when you
find yourselves in a mess, don't bear me any malice."
At this hint the woman took alarm, and hastily forcing a smile, she
pleaded guilty. "I've been rude," she exclaimed. With these words, she
rushed with all despatch out of the room.
T'an Ch'un smoothed her face. While doing so, she turned herself
towards P'ing Erh and gave her a cynical smile. "You've come just one
step too late," she remarked. "You weren't in time to see something
laughable! Even sister Wu, an old hand at business though she be,
failed to look up clearly an old custom and came to play her tricks on
us. But when we plied her with questions, she luckily had the face to
admit that it had slipped from her memory. 'Do you,' I insinuated,
'also forget, when you've got anything to report to lady Secunda? and
have you subsequently to go and hunt up all about it?' Your mistress
can't, I fancy, be so patient as to wait while she goes and institutes
proper search."
P'ing Erh laughed. "Were she to have behaved but once in this wise,"
she observed, "I feel positive that a couple of the tendons of her legs
would have long ago been snapped. But, Miss, don't credit all they say.
It's because they see that our senior mistress is as sweet-tempered as
a 'P'u-sa,' and that you, miss, are a modest young lady, that they,
naturally, shirk their duties and come and take liberties with you.
Your mind is set upon playing the giddy dogs," continuing, she added;
speaking towards those beyond the doorway; "but when your mistress gets
quite well again, we'll tell her all."
"You're gifted with the greatest perspicacity, miss," the married
women, standing outside the door, smiled in chorus. "The proverb says:
'the person who commits a fault must be the one to suffer.' We don't in
any way presume to treat any mistress with disdain. Our mistress at
present is in delicate health, and if we intentionally provoke her, may
we, when we die, have no place to have our corpses interred in."
P'ing Erh laughed a laugh full irony. "So long as you're aware of this,
it's well and good," she said. And smiling a saturnine smile, she
resumed, addressing herself to T'an Ch'un: "Miss, you know very well
how busy our lady has been and how little she could afford the time to
keep this tribe of people in order. Of course, they couldn't therefore,
be prevented from becoming remiss. The adage has it: 'Lookers-on are
clear of sight!' During all these years that you, have looked on
dispassionately, there have possibly been instances on which, though
additions or reductions should have been made, our lady Secunda has not
been able to effect them, so, miss, do add or curtail whatever you may
deem necessary, in order that, first, Madame Wang may be benefited, and
that, secondly, you mayn't too render nugatory the kindness with which
you ever deal towards our mistress."
But scarcely had she finished, than Pao-ch'ai and Li Wan smilingly
interposed. "What a dear girl!" they ejaculated. "One really can't feel
angry with that hussy Feng for being partial to her and fond of her. We
didn't, at first, see how we could very well alter anything by any
increase or reduction, but after what you've told us, we must hit upon
one or two things and try and devise means to do something, with a view
of not showing ourselves ungrateful of the advice you've tendered us."
"My heart was swelling with indignation," T'an Ch'un observed laughing,
"and I was about to go and give vent to my temper with her mistress,
but now that she (P'ing Erh) has happened to come, she has, with a few
words, quite dissuaded me from my purpose."
While she spoke, she called the woman, who had been with them a few
minutes back, to return into the room. "For what things for Mr. Chia
Huan and Mr. Chia Lau was the money expended during the year in the
family school?" she inquired of her.
"For cakes," replied the woman, "they ate during the year at school; or
for the purchase of paper and pens. Each one of them is allowed eight
taels."
"The various expenses on behalf of the young men," T'an Ch'un added,
"are invariably paid in monthly instalments to the respective
households. For cousin Chia Huan's, Mrs. Chao receives two taels. For
Pao-yü's, Hsi Jen draws two taels from our venerable senior's suite of
apartments. For cousin Chia Lan's, some one, in our senior lady's
rooms, gets the proper allowance. So how is it that these extra eight
taels have to be disbursed at school for each of these young fellows?
Is it really for these eight taels that they go to school? But from
this day forth I shall put a stop to this outlay. So P'ing Erh, when
you get back, tell your mistress that I say that this item must
absolutely be done away with."
"This should have been done away with long ago," P'ing Erh smiled.
"Last year our lady expressed her intention to eliminate it, but with
the endless things that claimed her attention about the fall of the
year, she forgot all about it."
The woman had no other course than to concur with her views and to walk
away. But the married women thereupon arrived from the garden of Broad
Vista with the boxes of eatables. So Shih Shu and Su Yün at once
brought a small dining-table, and P'ing Erh began to fuss about laying
the viands on it.
"If you've said all you had," T'an Ch'un laughed, "you'd better be off
and attend to your business. What's the use of your bustling about
here?"
"I've really got nothing to do," P'ing Erh answered smiling. "Our lady
Secunda sent me first, to deliver a message; and next, because she
feared that the servants in here weren't handy enough. The fact is, she
bade me come and help the girls wait on you, my lady, and on you,
miss."
"Why don't you bring Mrs. Pao's meal so that she should have it along
with us?" T'an Ch'un then inquired.
As soon as the waiting-maids heard her inquiry, they speedily rushed
out and went under the eaves. "Go," they cried, directing the married
women, "and say that Miss Pao-ch'ai would like to have her repast just
now in the hall along with the others, and tell them to send the
eatables here."
T'an Ch'un caught their directions. "Don't be deputing people to go on
reckless errands!" she vociferated. "Those are dames, who manage
important matters and look after the house, and do you send them to ask
for eatables and inquire about tea? You haven't even the least notion
about gradation. P'ing Erh is standing here, so tell her to go and give
the message."
P'ing Erh immediately assented, and issued from the room, bent upon
going on the errand. But the married women stealthily pulled her back.
"How could you, miss, be made to go and tell them?" they smiled. "We've
got some one here, who can do so!"
So saying, they dusted one of the stone steps with their handkerchiefs.
"You've been standing so long," they observed, "that you must feel
quite tired. Do sit in this sunny place and have a little rest."
P'ing Erh took a seat on the step. Two matrons attached to the tea-room
then fetched a rug and spread it out for her. "It's cold on those
stones," they ventured; "this is, as clean as it can be. So, miss, do
make the best of it, and use it!"
P'ing Erh hastily forced a smile. "Many thanks," she replied.
Another matron next brought her a cup of fine new tea. "This isn't the
tea we ordinarily drink," she quietly smiled. "This is really for
entertaining the young ladies with. Miss, pray moisten your mouth with
some."
P'ing Erh lost no time in bending her body forward and taking the cup.
Then pointing at the company of married women, she observed in a low
voice: "You're all too fond of trouble! The way you're going on won't
do at all! She (T'an Ch'un) is only a young girl, so she is loth to
show any severity, or display any temper. This is because she's full of
respect. Yet you people look down on her and insult her. Should she,
however, be actually provoked into any violent fit of anger, people
will simply say that her behaviour was rather rough, and all will be
over. But as for you, you'll get at once into endless trouble. Even
though she might show herself somewhat wilful, Madame Wang treats her
with considerable forbearance, and lady Secunda too hasn't the courage
to meddle with her; and do you people have such arrogance as to look
down on her? This is certainly just as if an egg were to go and bang
itself against a stone!"
"When were we ever so audacious?" the servants exclaimed with one
voice.
"This fuss is all the work of Mrs. Chao!"
"Never mind about that!" P'ing Erh urged again in an undertone. "My
dear ladies, 'when a wall falls, every one gives it a shove.' That Mrs.
Chao has always been rather topsy-turvey in her ways, and done things
by halves; so whenever there has been any rumpus, you've invariably
shoved the blame on to her shoulders. Never have you had any regard for
any single person. Your designs are simply awful! Is it likely that all
these years that I've been here, I haven't come to know of them? Had
our lady Secunda mismanaged things just a little bit, she would have
long ago been run down by every one of you, ladies! Even such as she
is, you would, could you only get the least opportunity, be ready to
place her in a fix! And how many, many times hasn't she been abused by
you?"
"She's dreadful," one and all of them rejoined. "You all live in fear
and trembling of her. But we know well enough that no one could say
that she too does not in the depths of her heart entertain some little
dread for the lot of you. The other day, we said, in talking matters
over, that things could not go on smoothly from beginning to end, and
that some unpleasantness was bound to happen. Miss Tertia is, it's
true, a mere girl, and you've always treated her with little
consideration, but out of that company of senior and junior young
ladies, she is the only soul whom our lady Secunda funks to some
certain extent. And yet you people now won't look up to her."
So speaking Ch'iu Wen appeared to view. The married women ran up to her
and inquired after her health. "Miss," they said, "do rest a little.
They've had their meal served in there, so wait until things have been
cleared away, before you go and deliver your message."
"I'm not like you people," Ch'iu Wen smiled. "How can I afford to
wait?"
With these words on her lips, she was about to go into the hall, when
P'ing Erh quickly called her back. Ch'iu Wen, upon turning her head
round, caught sight of P'ing Erh. "Have you too," she remarked with a
smile, "come here to become something like those guardians posted
outside the enclosing walls?"
Retracing, at the same time, her footsteps, she took a seat on the rug,
occupied by P'ing Erh.
"What message have you got to deliver?" P'ing Erh gently asked.
"I've got to ask when we can get Pao-yü's monthly allowance and our own
too," she responded.
"Is this any such pressing matter?" P'ing Erh answered. "Go back quick,
and tell Hsi Jen that my advice is that no concern whatever should be
brought to their notice to-day. That every single matter reported is
bound to be objected to; and that even a hundred will just as surely be
vetoed."
"Why is it?" vehemently inquired Ch'iu Wen, upon hearing this
explanation.
P'ing Erh and the other servants then promptly told her the various
reasons. "She's just bent," they proceeded, "upon finding a few weighty
concerns in order to establish, at the expense of any decent person who
might chance to present herself, a precedent of some kind or other so
as to fix upon a mode of action, which might help to put down expenses
to their proper level, and afford a lesson to the whole household; and
why are you people the first to come and bump your heads against the
nails? If you went now and told them your errand, it would also reflect
discredit upon our venerable old mistress and Madame Wang, were they to
pounce upon one or two matters to make an example of you. But if they
complied with one or two of your applications, others will again
maintain 'that they are inclined to favour this one and show partiality
to that one; that as you had your old mistress' and Madame Wang's
authority to fall back upon, they were afraid and did not presume to
provoke their displeasure; that they only avail themselves of
soft-natured persons to make scapegoats of.' Just mark my words! She
even means to raise objections in one or two matters connected with our
lady Secunda, in order to be the better able to shut up people's
mouths."
Ch'iu Wen listened to her with patient ear; and then stretching out her
tongue, "It's lucky enough you were here, sister P'ing," she smiled;
"otherwise, I would have had my nose well rubbed on the ground. I shall
seize the earliest opportunity and give the lot of them a hint."
While replying, she immediately rose to her feet and took leave of
them. Soon after her departure, Pao-ch'ai's eatables arrived, and P'ing
Erh hastened to enter and wait on her. By that time Mrs. Chao had left,
so the three girls seated themselves on the wooden bed, and went
through their repast. Pao-ch'ai faced the south. T'an Ch'un the west.
Li Wan the east. The company of married women stood quietly under the
verandah ready to answer any calls. Within the precincts of the
chamber, only such maids remained in waiting as had ever been their
closest attendants. None of the other servants ventured, of their own
accord, to put their foot anywhere inside.
The married women (meanwhile) discussed matters in a confidential
whisper. "Let's do our downright best to save trouble," they argued.
"Don't let us therefore harbour any evil design, for even dame Wu will,
in that case, be placed in an awkward fix. And can we boast of any
grand honours to expect to fare any better?"
While they stood on one side, and held counsel together, waiting for
the meal to be over to make their several reports, they could not catch
so much as the caw of a crow inside the rooms. Neither did the clatter
of bowls and chopsticks reach their ears. But presently, they discerned
a maid raise the frame of the portiere as high as she could, and two
other girls bring the table out. In the tea-room, three maids waited
with three basins in hand. The moment they saw the dining-table brought
out, all three walked in. But after a brief interval, they egressed
with the basins and rinsing cups. Shih Shu, Su Yün and Ying Erh
thereupon entered with three covered cups of tea, placed in trays.
Shortly however these three girls also made their exit. Shih Shu then
recommended a young maid to be careful and attend to the wants (of
their mistresses). "When we've had our rice," she added, "we'll come
and relieve you. But don't go stealthily again and sit down!"
The married women at length delivered their reports in a quiet and
orderly manner; and as they did not presume to be as contemptuous and
offhandish as they had been before, T'an Ch'un eventually cooled down.
"I've got something of moment," she then observed to P'ing Erh, "about
which I would like to consult your mistress. Happily, I remembered it
just now, so come back as soon as you've had your meal. Miss Pao-ch'ai
is also here at present, so, after we four have deliberated together,
you can carefully ask your lady whether action is to be taken
accordingly or not."
P'ing Erh acquiesced and returned to her quarters. "How is it,"
inquired lady Feng, "that you've been away such an age?"
P'ing Erh smiled and gave her a full account of what had recently
transpired.
"What a fine, splendid girl Miss Tertia is!" she laughingly ejaculated.
"What I said was quite right! The only pity is that she should have had
such a miserable lot as not to have been born of a primary wife."
"My lady, you're also talking a lot of trash!" P'ing Erh smiled. "She,
mayn't be Madame Wang's child, but is it likely that any one would be
so bold as to point the finger of scorn at her, and not treat her like
the others?"
Lady Feng sighed. "How could you know everything?" she remarked. "She
is, of course, the offspring of a concubine, but as a mere girl, she
can't be placed on the same footing as a man! By and bye, when any one
aspires to her hand, the sort of supercilious parties, who now tread
the world, will, as a first step, ask whether this young lady is the
child of a No. 1 or No. 2 wife. And many of these won't have anything
to say to her, as she is the child, of a No. 2. But really people
haven't any idea that, not to speak of her as the offspring of a
secondary wife, she would be, even as a mere servant-girl of ours, far
superior than the very legitimate daughter of any family. Who, I
wonder, will in the future be so devoid of good fortune as to break off
the match; just because he may be inclined to pick and choose between a
wife's child and a concubine's child? And who, I would like to know,
will be that lucky fellow, who'll snatch her off without any regard to
No. 1 and No. 2?"
Continuing, she resumed, turning smilingly towards P'ing Erh, "You know
well enough how many ways and means I've had all these years to devise
in order to effect retrenchment, and how there isn't, I may safely
aver, a single soul in the whole household, who doesn't detest me
behind my back. But now that I'm astride on the tiger's back, (I must
go on; for if I put my foot on the ground, I shall be devoured). It's
true, my tactics have been more or less seen through, but there's no
help for it; I can't very well become more open-handed in a moment! In
the second place, much goes out at home, and little comes in; and the
hundred and one, large and small, things, which turn up, are still
managed with that munificence so characteristic of our old ancestors.
But the funds, that come in throughout the year, fall short of the
immense sums of past days. And if I try again to effect any savings
people will laugh at me, our venerable senior and Madame Wang suffer
wrongs, and the servants abhor me for my stinginess. Yet, if we don't
seize the first opportunity to think of some plan for enforcing
retrenchment, our means will, in the course of a few more years, be
completely exhausted."
"Quite so!" assented P'ing Erh. "By and bye, there will be three or
four daughters and two or three more sons added; and our old mistress
won't be able, singlehanded, to meet all this heavy outlay."
"I myself entertain fears on the same score," lady Feng smiled. "But,
after all, there will be ample. For when Pao-yü and cousin Lin get
married, there won't be any need to touch a cent of public money, as
our old lady has her own private means, and she can well fork out some.
Miss Secunda is the child of your senior master yonder, and she too
needn't be taken into account. So there only remain three or four, for
each of whom one need only spend, at the utmost, ten thousand taels.
Cousin Huan will marry in the near future; and if an outlay of three
thousand taels prove insufficient, we will be able, by curtailing the
bandoline, used in those rooms for smoothing the hair with, make both
ends meet. And should our worthy senior's end come about, provision for
everything is already made. All that we'll have to do will be to spend
some small sum for a few miscellaneous trifles; and three to five
thousand taels will more than suffice. So with further economies at
present, there will be plenty for all our successive needs. The only
fear is lest anything occur at an unforeseen juncture; for then it will
be dreadful! But don't let us give way to apprehensions with regard to
the future! You'd better have your rice; and when you've done, be quick
and go and hear what they mean to treat about in their deliberations. I
must now turn this opportunity to the best account. I was only this
very minute lamenting that I had no help at my disposal. There's
Pao-yü, it's true, but he too is made of the same stuff as the rest of
them in here. Were I even to get him under my thumb, it would be of no
earthly use whatever. Senior lady is as good-natured as a joss; and she
likewise is no good. Miss Secunda is worse than useless. Besides, she
doesn't belong to this place. Miss Quarta is only a child. That young
fellow Lan and Huan-erh are, more than any of the others, like frozen
kittens with frizzled coats. They only wait to find some warm hole in a
stove into which they may poke themselves! Really from one and the same
womb have been created two human beings (T'an Ch'un and Chia Huan) so
totally unlike each other as the heavens are distant from the earth.
But when I think of all this, I feel quite angry! Again, that girl Lin
and Miss Pao are both deserving enough, but as they also happen to be
our connexions, they couldn't very well be put in charge of our family
affairs. What's more, the one resembles a lantern, decorated with nice
girls, apt to spoil so soon as it is blown by a puff of wind. The other
has made up her mind not to open her month in anything that doesn't
concern her. When she's questioned about anything, she simply shakes
her head, and repeats thrice: 'I don't know,' so that it would be an
extremely difficult job to go and ask her to lend a helping hand.
There's only therefore Miss Tertia, who is as sharp of mind as of
tongue. She's besides a straightforward creature in this household of
ours and Madame Wang is attached to her as well. It's true that she
outwardly makes no display of her feelings for her, but it's all that
old thing Mrs. Chao, who has done the mischief, for, in her heart, she
actually holds her as dear as she does Pao-yü. She's such a contrast to
Huan-erh! He truly makes it hard for any one to care a rap for him.
Could I have had my own way, I would long ere this have packed him out
of the place. But since she (T'au Ch'un) has now got this idea into her
mind, we must cooperate with her. For if we can afford each other a
helping hand, I too won't be single-handed and alone. And as far as
every right principle, eternal principle, and honesty of purpose go, we
shall with such a person as a helpmate, be able to save ourselves
considerable anxiety, and Madame Wang's interests will, on the other
hand, derive every advantage. But, as far as unfairness and bad faith
go, I've run the show with too malicious a hand, and I must turn tail
and draw back from my old ways. When I review what I've done, I find
that if I still push my tyrannical rule to the bitter end, people will
hate me most relentlessly; so much so, that under their smiles they'll
harbour daggers, and much though we two may then be able to boast of
having four eyes and two heads between us, they'll compass our ruin,
when they can at any moment find us off our guard. We should therefore
make the best of this crisis, so that as soon as she takes the
initiative and sets things in order, all that tribe of people may for a
time lose sight of the bitter feelings they cherish against us, for the
way we've dealt with them in the past. But there's another thing
besides. I naturally know the great talents you possess, but I feel
mistrust lest you should, by your own wits, not be able to bring things
round. I enjoin these things then on you, now, for although a mere girl
she has everything at her fingers' ends. The only thing is that she
must try and be wary in speech. She's besides so much better read than
I am that she's a harder nut to crack. Now the proverb says: 'in order
to be able to catch the rebels, you must first catch their chief.' So
if she's at present disposed to mature some plan and set to work to put
it into practice, she'll certainly have to first and foremost make a
start with me. In the event consequently of her raising objections to
anything I've done, mind you don't begin any dispute with her. The more
virulent she is in her censure of me, the more deferential you should
be towards her. That's your best plan. And whatever you do, don't
imagine that I'm afraid of any loss of face. But the moment you flare
up with her, things won' go well……"
P'ing Erh did not allow her time to conclude her argument. "You're too
much disposed to treat us as simpletons!" she smiled. "I've already
carried out your wishes, and do you now enjoin all these things on me?"
Lady Feng smiled. "It's because," she resumed, "I feared lest you, who
have your eyes and mouth so full of me, and only me, might be inclined
to show no regard whatever for her, that's why. I couldn't, therefore,
but tender you the advice I did. But since you've already done what I
wanted you to do, you've shown yourself far sharper than I am. There's
nothing in this to drive you into another tantrum, and to make that
mouth of yours begin to chatter away so much about 'you and I,' 'you
and I' !"
"I've actually addressed you as 'you' ;" P'ing Erh rejoined; "but if
you be displeased at it, isn't this a case of a slap on the mouth? You
can very well give me another one, for is it likely that this phiz of
mine hasn't as yet tasted any, pray?"
"What a vixen you are!" lady Feng said smilingly. "How many faults will
you go on picking out, before you shut up? You see how ill I am, and
yet you come to rub me the wrong way. Come and sit down; for you and I
can at all events have our meal together when there is no one to break
in upon us. It's only right that we should."
While these remarks dropped from her lips, Feng Erh and some three or
four other maids entered the room and laid the small stove-couch table.
Lady Feng only ate some birds' nests' soup and emptied two small plates
of some recherché light viands; for she had long ago temporarily
reduced her customary diet.
Feng Erh placed the four kinds of eatables allotted to P'ing Erh on the
table. After which, she filled a bowl of rice for her. Then with one
leg bent on the edge of the stove-couch, while the other rested on the
ground, P'ing Erh kept lady Feng company during her repast; and waiting
on her, afterwards, until she finished rinsing her mouth, she issued
certain directions to Feng Erh, and crossed over at length to T'an
Ch'un's quarters. Here she found the courtyard plunged in perfect
stillness, for the various inmates, who had been assembled there, had
already taken their leave.
But, reader, do you wish to follow up the story? If so, listen to the
circumstances detailed in the next chapter.