Chapter 1
Aunt Meng accompanied Lin Ruhai for a stroll by the small lake. Due to the overcast sky and the onset of autumn, the lake was filled with withered lotus leaves, creating a rather desolate scene. Noticing a hint of sorrow in Lin Ruhai's eyes, she pondered for a moment and said: "Not long after the young lady began her education, she read a line, 'Let the remaining lotus hear the sound of the rain.' She said she liked it, and the master instructed the maids not to clear away these lotus leaves, to let them be. Although I can recognize a few characters, I do not understand poetry, yet this line is particularly clear in my memory. It seems it might rain today, and the master can listen to the sound of the rain falling on the withered lotus, but I do not know how the entire poem is written."
"Shut up!" Lin Ruhai, having regained his composure, waved for Huiming to stand aside. He felt that the scene before him was no longer so dizzying and carefully examined the book cover. The face of the lady depicted was not very clear, yet he inexplicably felt that this painting resembled his grown daughter. He then noticed that beside the lady were several large characters written in a very neat but utterly unremarkable style: "Dream of the Red Chamber." Suddenly, he recalled what Huiming had said earlier about the monk mentioning matters concerning daughters. Seeing the character "dream" among these three words made him feel particularly ominous. He reached out and casually unfolded the book, feeling that the paper was both fine and tough, unlike any he had ever seen—so dense yet so firm. He flipped through it casually and had already turned over more than half of the book. A glance at the text made his heart race, nearly causing him to faint. The page was densely filled with many characters, much smaller than those in ordinary books, yet a few characters stood out distinctly:
This is a placeholder text.
That monk, no, the monk who claims he is not a monk said, the master must see him, for he can save the young lady's life
In the bamboo grove, the water platform is clear and untainted, longing stretches across the heavy city. The autumn gloom lingers as frost falls in the evening, leaving behind the remnants of lotus to listen to the sound of rain. With this diversion, Lin Ruhai momentarily cast aside his melancholic thoughts and softly recited poetry to Aunt Meng. "This is from Li Shangyin's 'Staying at the Luoshi Pavilion, Sending My Thoughts to Cui Yong and Cui Gun.' Not only Daiyu appreciates it; the lady also greatly favored this line back then, and Daiyu resembles her mother in this regard." At this point, the sorrow that had dissipated by half surged back: "When the lady was alive, listening to the sound of rain dripping on the lotus leaves with her was truly delightful. Now, looking at this pool of withered flowers and fallen leaves, one can only feel desolate."
At that time, Lin Ru Hai, the Inspector of Salt, was also a well-known talent from Jiangsu and Zhejiang. However, this former top scholar, now holding the position of a third-rank official as a Minister of the Lantai Temple, and deeply trusted by the sage, was appointed as the Inspector of Salt. In recent years, he has suffered the loss of both his son and wife. The once tall and handsome Lin, now merely forty-two years old, has already turned gray at the temples, and his back is no longer as straight as it used to be.
The two reminisced and recalled many amusing childhood stories. Aunt Meng was originally a maid of Lin Ruhai, known for her decisive character. Not wanting to remain a servant in the Lin household for a lifetime, she bought her freedom and married as a legitimate wife. However, fate played a cruel trick on her; after a few years of a peaceful life, she found herself alone, enduring much hardship. Later, she was brought back to the household by Jia Min, who had grown distant from her late husband's relatives. Thus, she took on the nominal title of concubine beside Lin Ruhai, explaining to outsiders that Mrs. Lin was nostalgic and felt that since Aunt Meng had served Lin Ruhai for a time and was now alone without anyone to care for her, it was only fitting to take her as a concubine. Since Aunt Meng had redeemed herself when she left the Lin household, although she had been married, she was still considered a woman of good family, making her the only legitimate concubine in the Lin household. Aunt Meng was fundamentally different from those of servant status, and Lin Ruhai had shared over thirty years of affection with her. Although they had never been intimate, they regarded each other as family. Now, Lin Ruhai was forty-two, and Aunt Meng was two years older than him. The two middle-aged individuals, despite one having lost a husband and the other a wife, still presented a scene of serene beauty when together, relying on each other for support.
Upon hearing the mention of a monk, Lin Ruhai felt annoyed and scolded, "The monk has come; just offer him some alms. Send over a portion of vegetarian food and give him a few hundred coins! Such trivial matters should not disturb me."
The two individuals stood half a zhang apart, each crying their own tears. One recalled his deceased wife and lamented the absence of his only daughter; the other remembered how, in a single night, she lost both her husband and son, and wondered what the meaning of her solitary existence over the past twenty years was. In that moment, they were oblivious to each other, consumed only by their own grief. Fortunately, the Lin residence had very few servants at present, and every evening, these two would take their walks without any maidservants accompanying them, so their prolonged lamentation went unnoticed.
"There is no one naughtier than you..." Aunt Meng sighed softly, "And you still say I cried? How old was I then? Just a little girl of seven or eight, with a face painted like a turtle, which I couldn't wash off. Wasn't I supposed to cry? I thought you were some mischievous brat from somewhere, but who would have known that the most composed young master would be so naughty behind the scenes!"
Chapter Fourteen: Lin Ruhai Donates a Pavilion in Yangzhou City, Jia Baoyu Visits Prince Jing of the North
***
Upon seeing Aunt Meng, Lin Ruhai's sorrow was once again stirred, and she found herself at a loss. She was not a particularly eloquent person, and even though she made an effort to take Lin Ruhai out for fresh air every day for the sake of his health, it was largely due to her persistent efforts. Moreover, Lin Ruhai understood her good intentions and did not deliberately make things difficult for her, which allowed him to accompany her on these outings. As for alleviating his worries or specifically trying to win his favor, she truly had no means to do so—however, it is precisely because she was such a person that Lin Ruhai chose to keep her by his side.
My lord, there is a monk outside who wishes to see you
"What did you say? Your stuttering when you get anxious is just like your father's!" Upon seeing Huiming stutter, Lin Ruhai instead smiled. His only son was no longer around, so he felt fondness for this boy. Although he occasionally scolded his little scholar, most of the time he was indeed extremely lenient.
The author has something to say
After crying for a long while, it was Aunt Meng who finally regained her composure. She took out a handkerchief to wipe her face and then pulled out a new handkerchief to hand to Lin Ruhai. The two exchanged glances and saw in each other the faces that no longer bore the youth of their earlier years. Lin Ruhai could not help but feel deflated: "What is this all about for us, who have hair that has turned white?"
After spending some time outside, Aunt Meng assisted Lin Ruhai back to the inner study, all the while chattering incessantly: "Look at you, you've only taken a few steps and you're already panting, your constitution is even weaker than mine! I say, what books are you reading so early every day? Do you still think you lack knowledge? It would be better to come out and take a walk; having a stronger physique is better than anything else!" After a bout of crying and fussing, the unspoken distance and taboos that had lingered between the two over the years seemed to dissipate.
Master! Aunt Meng sobbed and cried, "I have always been a person barely hanging on. When Jingming and Mu Ge'er left, I should have gone with them, but I could not swallow this anger! They harmed my husband and children; if I were to close my eyes and die, who would avenge my husband and children... What talk of adoption! Clearly, he was trampled to death by wicked men, yet my uncles and brothers, who have no fortune, took a few coins from others and forced me, a widow, to accept my fate! Who would want to raise these heartless thieves? They are only greedy for my little dowry; who truly wishes to call me mother? Clearly, he was trampled to death by wicked men, yet my uncles and brothers, who have no fortune, took a few coins from others and forced me, a widow, to accept my fate! Who would want to raise these heartless thieves? They are only greedy for my little dowry; who truly wishes to call me mother? When I am gone, who will remember to offer a stick of incense for my husband and son? Even if the master and mistress did not take me in that day, and I died at their Zhang family's ancestral hall, it would never fulfill their wishes. Master, do not speak of how things were that day! My own fate is bitter; what does it have to do with you? If it were not for you, I would have long been driven to death by those scoundrels! Even if the master and mistress did not take me in that day, and I died at their Zhang family's ancestral hall, it would never fulfill their wishes. Master, do not speak of how things were that day! My own fate is bitter; what does it have to do with you? If it were not for you, I would have long been driven to death by those scoundrels! Now that the revenge has long been taken, I possess nothing and have no ability. I only hope to serve the master's health well, and when the eldest daughter returns home, she can find a good family to marry into. When the master becomes a grandfather, if I still please him, I will continue to serve. If I am no longer needed, please find me a quiet temple where I can chant for the master, mistress, and eldest daughter! I must repay the great kindness and virtue of the master and mistress!"
Note 1: Regarding Lin Ruhai's official position. The original text states, "Lin Ruhai, whose surname is Lin and given name is Hai, with the courtesy name Ruhai, is a former top scholar. He has now been promoted to the position of Grand Minister of the Lantai Temple, originally from Gusu, and has recently been appointed as the Salt Supervisor, having been in office for just over a month." The position of Salt Supervisor only existed during the Ming and Qing dynasties. In the Ming Dynasty, the Salt Supervisor was a minor official of the seventh rank, while the Lantai Temple is part of the Censorate, and the Grand Minister of the Lantai Temple is essentially a Censorate Minister, which is a significant official position, typically of the second or third rank. It is highly unlikely that such a high-ranking official would be assigned to a minor position of the seventh rank. The position of Salt Supervisor also existed in the early Qing Dynasty, but it was not fixed in rank and was held by high-ranking officials of the first or second rank, with a term of only one year, which effectively prevented corruption in this lucrative position. Therefore, I believe that this explanation for Lin Ruhai's official position is more reasonable, but it cannot be rigidly applied to the Qing Dynasty, as there was no title of Grand Minister of the Lantai Temple in that period, and the original text does not mention that Lin Ruhai completed his one-year term and then ceased to hold the position. It is evident that he did not return to the capital to continue serving as the Grand Minister of the Lantai Temple. Thus, it can only be said that Cao Xueqin synthesized elements from his own era to create a mixed narrative. After all, it is a fictional setting, and applying it rigidly to a specific dynasty is absurd. Here, I have made some adjustments, considering the Grand Minister of the Lantai Temple to be of the third rank, while the position of Salt Supervisor, although it can be concurrently held, is not limited to one year. The fact that it is held by high-ranking officials provides a certain guarantee of integrity. According to the official evaluation system of that time, evaluations were conducted every three years, and one could serve for three years in a term, but due to the special nature of the position, it was generally not held consecutively.
Aunt Meng wept bitterly: "Why does the master say such things? The master is right here; why would I need anyone else to support me!"
Since the founding of the nation by the Great Ancestor, it has been nearly 100 years since the establishment of this great river country. Although there have been occasional wars over the years, they have never shaken the foundation of the state. The most recent nationwide drought occurred 5 years ago. Apart from some impoverished and remote areas lacking fertile land, certain years have consistently yielded poor harvests. In most regions, however, there have been several consecutive years of favorable weather, resulting in a scene of national prosperity.
Aunt Meng also found it quite meaningless, and she withdrew her handkerchief, angrily saying: "Who wants to make a fuss! At this age, one should not be going on about life and death all day long, lest one become a laughingstock."
Hui Ming was quite frightened this time, hurriedly stepping forward to support Lin Ru Hai, retreating a few steps to sit down on a chair, and exclaimed in anger: "Damn monk, what harmful thing did you take? I ended up with this cursed book, causing people to lock him up and send him to the authorities!"
Glancing through the newspaper, it seemed there was nothing of great importance, so he set it aside and picked up another small envelope. Lin Ruhai sighed, recalling how his daughter had been taken away by her maternal grandmother a year ago. The mountains are high and the waters long; over the course of a year, he had only received four letters. Although his daughter wrote in each letter that she was doing very well and urged her father not to worry, a father knows his daughter well. How could he not understand that his daughter, being precocious, would not express her unhappiness if she were not truly content? After a year, he had received only four letters. Although his daughter wrote in each letter that she was doing very well and urged her father not to worry, a father knows his daughter well. How could he not understand that his daughter, being precocious, would not express her unhappiness if she were not truly content? Fortunately, she was with her maternal family, which, while not as comfortable as home, was still better than being with him, where no one could provide proper upbringing, leading to difficulties in securing a good marriage in the future.
The master was not seriously ill; if you think more about the young lady and take care of your health, you could live to a hundred! But if the master insists on pushing himself to the brink, then just send me to the temple directly! It would save me from the heartache! This Aunt Meng had always been gentle; when had she ever been so sharp-tongued? As soon as the words left her mouth, she regretted it, but did not know how to take them back, only sobbing softly.
On this day, Lin Ruhai was on duty at the yamen when his close attendant, Fushun, walked in and reported: "Sir, this is the monthly report from the beginning of the month, and there is also a letter brought by the young lady that has just arrived." As he spoke, he presented two envelopes, one large and one small, with both hands.
"Get out!" Upon hearing this, Lin Ruhai became furious. Anyone in his position would be enraged. His daughter was cherished like no other, yet back then, when she was still in his arms, a monk came to take her away. When he refused, the monk spouted a bunch of nonsense. Now, another monk has come claiming to save his daughter's life. It is truly infuriating!
On the day of Jia Min's passing, Lin Ruhai was overwhelmed with grief, nearly losing all hope. Having long accepted that he was destined to be childless, after sending his daughter away, Lin Ruhai decided to dismiss all the concubines and maids, retaining only the ink girl who had served him since before Jia Min entered the household. Now nearing fifty, she, along with the elderly Aunt Meng, managed the inner quarters. Although it was termed management, it merely involved distributing monthly allowances and ensuring that the servants did not become lazy. Now, Lin Ruhai was the sole master of the household, and Aunt Meng, who had always been non-confrontational, despite having been elevated to the status of a concubine, continued to see herself as the ink girl by Lin Ruhai's side, living a very simple life. Since they resided in an official residence in Yangzhou, most of the servants were locally hired. With the passing of Madam Jia and the eldest daughter sent to her maternal grandparents, nearly all the concubines had also left, making the remaining servants seem excessive. Consequently, Lin Ruhai dismissed most of the locally hired maids and servants who were no longer needed in the inner quarters. In the inner quarters, apart from a few maids serving him and those who had originally attended to his daughter, only a dozen or so women remained for cleaning, cooking, and guarding the household.
Lin Ruhai's fingers trembled slightly: "How many more days can you rely on me? It is my fault for delaying you for so many years. When Zhang Xiucai passed away, I should have helped you adopt a good-natured son. After twenty years, you must have already become a grandmother. It is better than just holding a hollow title here, enduring with me. If I were to die, you would be left with no relatives or support; what would you do then?"
What is there to avoid discussing? In fact, outsiders already regard Aunt Meng as Lin Ruhai's concubine, and distancing themselves won't change that. In the past, it was better to avoid certain topics to prevent Jia Min from overthinking, after all, it was merely a nominal relationship, and being too close would not look good. But what is there to avoid now? The only ones who know the openness between them are the two of them! Why be so coy! The only ones who know the openness between them are the two of them! Why be so coy!
After finishing the day's tasks, I headed directly towards the back residence. Lin Ruhai lived in an official residence, with the government office in front and the back residence behind, making it quite convenient for commuting to and from work
In this world, matters tend to either be uneventful for a while or, if something does occur, it is invariably a series of events in quick succession. Lin Ruhai received a letter from his daughter early in the morning, and after a troubling exchange with Concubine Meng, he had barely settled into his study when his young attendant, Huiming, burst in.
Huiming was only about eleven or twelve years old. Although he had learned to read and write with Lin Ruhai, he was quite straightforward. He honestly said: "That monk claims he is not a monk, and he does not want any alms; he just wants to see the master! He keeps saying..."
Since ancient times, Jiangsu and Zhejiang have been known as the land of fish and rice, and the prosperity of the people goes without saying. When the granaries are full, one understands etiquette. Therefore, talented individuals and renowned officials, who may be rare in other places, are quite numerous in these two regions. Over the past century, while it may not be appropriate to describe them as numerous as the fish in the river, the phrase "too many to count" is indeed absolutely fitting.
"Do not hit!" Huiming was also conflicted; he vaguely knew a bit about the events from years ago and understood that his master was most annoyed by these monks and Taoists. However, this matter could not simply be resolved by driving them away. As he said this, the doorman, Old Wu, was about to chase him out. He handed Old Wu a book to be delivered to his master, saying that once his master read it, he would understand. He earnestly requested that his master read the book before deciding whether to expel him. After saying this, he presented the book and stood aside obediently.
The two walked quietly by the lake. Lin Ruhai suddenly said, "Xiang Mo, I had someone buy a small courtyard in your hometown, along with three hundred acres of land." Aunt Meng was taken aback and turned to look at Lin Ruhai, only to see him turn his head away and no longer look at her. "I inquired about it; although your maternal family has lost close relatives, there are still some people of the same clan. There are a few children without parents, and their character is decent. I will have Mr. Li accompany you back to help you choose which child you like, and then we can discuss raising them under your care, so that you will have support in your old age..."
It was still early, so Lin Ruhai entered the study first. Just as he was about to flip through some books, he heard his book boy report that Aunt Meng had arrived. Lin Ruhai knew that Aunt Meng would surely want to take him to the garden for a stroll. Although he was not particularly willing, he also recognized her good intentions, so he called her in.
As expected, upon entering, Aunt Meng smiled and said, "The weather is just right today; why doesn't the master take a stroll by the lake and bask in the sun?" After saying this, she did not care whether Lin Ruhai agreed or not, and directly assisted him out the door. It was not that Lin Ruhai was particularly compliant with Aunt Meng; rather, in the past, he had used excuses such as being busy with official duties, it being late, or the weather being bad to evade her requests. However, Aunt Meng, who was not particularly clever on ordinary matters, was adamant when it came to Lin Ruhai's health. If he said he was busy, she would wait patiently by the side; if he said it was late, she would fetch a lantern; if he said the weather was bad, she would suggest, "Why not have the master practice the Five Animal Frolics indoors?" In such ways, she persisted. In another household, this might have been considered overstepping, but Lin Ruhai was naturally easygoing and knew right from wrong. Aunt Meng was not one to use clever words; her insistence on making him move was solely for his health, so how could she not understand the boundaries? Thus, although he felt somewhat impatient, he still acquiesced to her wishes.
Lin Ruhai felt annoyed in his heart, yet he still accepted the book. As soon as he held it, he was taken aback. It was not for any other reason, but because the material of this book was something Lin Ruhai had never encountered before. Although there were many types of paper at that time, how many well-known papers had Lin Ruhai, the flower champion, not seen? However, the paper of this book was indeed too strange; the cover was thick and resilient, the characters and images on it seemed to be printed, yet there was not a hint of relief, the surface was as smooth as jade, and it felt just as sleek to the touch, even somewhat slippery. ... On the cover, a lady stood amidst a flurry of falling flowers ... . ... Her features were not very distinct, and the artist was probably not a master, but the print was remarkably exquisite, appearing as clear as a newly created painting. Yet, the paper of this book was indeed too strange; the cover was thick and resilient, the characters and images on it seemed to be printed, yet there was not a hint of relief, the surface was as smooth as jade, and it felt just as sleek to the touch, even somewhat slippery. ... On the cover, a lady stood amidst a flurry of falling flowers ... . ... Her features were not very distinct, and the artist was probably not a master, but the print was remarkably exquisite, appearing as clear as a newly created painting. However, for some unknown reason, although it was merely a not-so-impressive painting of a lady, upon seeing this image, Lin Ruhai felt his heart pounding like a drum, his mouth dry and eyes sore, and in a daze, he felt that the indistinct features of the lady transformed into the youthful appearance of Madam Jia Min, resembling a grown-up Daiyu, with a buzzing in his ears, his hands trembling uncontrollably, yet he could not utter a word. Clearly, it was just a not-so-impressive painting of a lady, yet upon seeing this image, Lin Ruhai felt his heart pounding like a drum, his mouth dry and eyes sore, and in a daze, he felt that the indistinct features of the lady transformed into the youthful appearance of Madam Jia Min, resembling a grown-up Daiyu, with a buzzing in his ears, his hands trembling uncontrollably, yet he could not utter a word.
"It's just a matter of talking today, how did it turn into all day?" Lin Ruhai was not angry: "I haven't seen you cry for over thirty years. I remember the last time you were angry was when I drew a turtle face on you!"
Lin Ruhai could not help but shed tears: "Why must you do this? How many days do I have left to live?"