第百十七回　阻超凡佳人雙護玉　欣聚党惡子獨承家 Two Maidens Guard the Jade Against Transcendence; A Wicked Son Alone Inherits the House

話說王夫人打發人來叫寶釵過去商量，寶玉聽見說是和尚在外頭，赶忙的獨自一人走到前頭，嘴里亂嚷道：“我的師父在那里？”叫了半天，并不見有和尚，只得走到外面。The story goes that Lady Wang sent someone to call Baochai over to discuss matters. When Baoyu heard that a monk was outside, he hurried alone to the front, shouting confusedly, "Where is my master?" He called for a long while but saw no monk, and had no choice but to go outside.見李貴將和尚攔住，不放他進來。He saw Li Gui blocking the monk, not letting him in.寶玉便說道：“太太叫我請師父進去。”李貴聽了松了手，那和尚便搖搖擺擺的進去。Baoyu said, "Madam told me to invite the master in." Hearing this, Li Gui let go, and the monk swaggered in.寶玉看見那僧的形狀與他死去時所見的一般，心里早有些明白了，便上前施禮，連叫：“師父，弟子迎候來遲。”那僧說：“我不要你們接待，只要銀子，拿了來我就走。”寶玉聽來又不象有道行的話，看他滿頭癩瘡，混身腌臢破爛，心里想道：“自古說‘真人不露相，露相不真人’，也不可當面錯過，我且應了他謝銀，并探探他的口氣。”便說道：“師父不必性急，現在家母料理，請師父坐下略等片刻。Baoyu saw that the monk's appearance was just as he had seen when he had "died," and already understood something in his heart. He stepped forward to bow, calling repeatedly, "Master, your disciple is late in coming to greet you." The monk said, "I don't want your reception, I only want silver — bring it and I'll leave." To Baoyu this didn't sound like the words of someone with spiritual attainment; seeing the monk's head covered in scabby sores and his whole body filthy and ragged, he thought to himself, "As the old saying goes, 'a true immortal does not reveal himself; one who reveals himself is no true immortal' — I mustn't let this chance slip by right in front of me. I'll go along with promising him the silver, and probe his meaning a bit." So he said, "Master, there's no need to be impatient. My mother is seeing to it now — please sit and wait a little while."弟子請問，師父可是從‘太虛幻境’而來？”那和尚道：“什麼幻境，不過是來處來去處去罷了！"May I ask, Master, do you come from Taixu Huanjing?" The monk said, "What illusion — I merely come from where I came and go to where I go!"我是送還你的玉來的。"I've come to return your jade to you."我且問你，那玉是從那里來的？”寶玉一時對答不來。"Let me ask you — where did that jade come from?" Baoyu could not answer for a moment.那僧笑道：“你自己的來路還不知，便來問我！”寶玉本來穎悟，又經點化，早把紅塵看破，只是自己的底里未知，一聞那僧問起玉來，好象當頭一棒，便說道：“你也不用銀子了，我把那玉還你罷。”那僧笑道：“也該還我了。”The monk laughed and said, "You don't even know your own origin, and yet you come asking me!" Baoyu had always been perceptive by nature, and having since been enlightened, had already seen through the world of red dust; only the truth of his own origin remained unknown to him. As soon as he heard the monk ask about the jade, it struck him like a blow to the head, and he said, "You needn't have the silver either — let me return the jade to you." The monk laughed and said, "It's high time you returned it to me."

话说王夫人打发人来叫宝钗过去商量，宝玉听见说是和尚在外头，赶忙的独自一人走到前头，嘴里乱嚷道：“我的师父在那里？”叫了半天，并不见有和尚，只得走到外面。见李贵将和尚拦住，不放他进来。宝玉便说道：“太太叫我请师父进去。”李贵听了松了手，那和尚便摇摇摆摆的进去。宝玉看见那僧的形状与他死去时所见的一般，心里早有些明白了，便上前施礼，连叫：“师父，弟子迎候来迟。”那僧说：“我不要你们接待，只要银子，拿了来我就走。”宝玉听来又不象有道行的话，看他满头癞疮，混身腌臜破烂，心里想道：“自古说‘真人不露相，露相不真人’，也不可当面错过，我且应了他谢银，并探探他的口气。”便说道：“师父不必性急，现在家母料理，请师父坐下略等片刻。弟子请问，师父可是从‘太虚幻境’而来？”那和尚道：“什么幻境，不过是来处来去处去罢了！我是送还你的玉来的。我且问你，那玉是从那里来的？”宝玉一时对答不来。那僧笑道：“你自己的来路还不知，便来问我！”宝玉本来颖悟，又经点化，早把红尘看破，只是自己的底里未知，一闻那僧问起玉来，好象当头一棒，便说道：“你也不用银子了，我把那玉还你罢。”那僧笑道：“也该还我了。”

寶玉也不答言，往里就跑，走到自己院內，見寶釵襲人等都到王夫人那里去了，忙向自己床邊取了那玉便走出來。Baoyu said nothing more and ran straight inside. Reaching his own courtyard, he found that Baochai, Xiren, and the others had all gone to Lady Wang's, so he hurried to his bedside, took the jade, and came back out.迎面碰見了襲人，撞了一個滿怀，把襲人唬了一跳，說道：“太太說，你陪著和尚坐著很好，太太在那里打算送他些銀兩。He ran straight into Xiren, colliding with her full on, which gave her a fright. She said, "Madam says it's fine for you to keep sitting with the monk — she's over there working out how much silver to give him.你又回來做什麼？”寶玉道：“你快去回太太，說不用張羅銀兩了，我把這玉還了他就是了。”襲人聽說，即忙拉住寶玉道：“這斷使不得的！'Why have you come back again?' Baoyu said, "Go quickly and tell Madam there's no need to fuss over the silver — I'll just return this jade to him and be done with it." On hearing this, Xiren hastily grabbed hold of Baoyu and said, "This absolutely will not do!那玉就是你的命，若是他拿去了，你又要病著了。”寶玉道：“如今不再病的了，我已經有了心了，要那玉何用！”摔脫襲人，便要想走。That jade is your very life — if he takes it away, you'll fall ill again." Baoyu said, "I won't fall ill again now. I already have my mind clear — what use do I have for that jade!" He shook Xiren off and tried to walk away.襲人急得赶著嚷道：“你回來，我告訴你一句話。”寶玉回過頭來道：“沒有什麼說的了。”襲人顧不得什麼，一面赶著跑，一面嚷道：“上回丟了玉，幾乎沒有把我的命要了！Xiren, in her anxiety, chased after him shouting, "Come back, I have something to tell you." Baoyu turned his head and said, "There's nothing more to say." Xiren, past caring about anything now, ran after him shouting as she went, "Last time the jade was lost, it nearly cost me my life!剛剛兒的有了，你拿了去，你也活不成，我也活不成了！It's only just been found again — if you take it away, you won't be able to live, and neither will I!你要還他，除非是叫我死了！”說著，赶上一把拉住。If you want to return it to him, you'll have to kill me first!" So saying, she caught up and seized hold of him.寶玉急了道：“你死也要還，你不死也要還！”狠命的把襲人一推，抽身要走。Baoyu, growing desperate, said, "Whether you die or not, I'm returning it either way!" He shoved Xiren away with all his strength and tried to break free and go.怎奈襲人兩只手繞著寶玉的帶子不放松，哭喊著坐在地下。But Xiren wound both hands around Baoyu's sash and would not let go, crying and shouting as she sat down on the ground.里面的丫頭聽見連忙赶來，瞧見他兩個人的神情不好，只聽見襲人哭道：“快告訴太太去，寶二爺要把那玉去還和尚呢！”丫頭赶忙飛報王夫人。The maids inside heard the commotion and hurried over. Seeing that something was badly wrong between the two of them, they heard only Xiren crying out, "Quick, go tell Madam — Second Master Bao is going to give the jade back to the monk!" The maid rushed off to report to Lady Wang at once.那寶玉更加生氣，用手來掰開了襲人的手，幸虧襲人忍痛不放。Baoyu grew even angrier and tried to pry Xiren's hands apart, but fortunately Xiren bore the pain and would not let go.紫鵑在屋里聽見寶玉要把玉給人，這一急比別人更甚，把素日冷淡寶玉的主意都忘在九霄雲外了，連忙跑出來幫著抱住寶玉。Zijuan, inside the room, heard that Baoyu meant to give the jade away, and her alarm was even greater than the others'. She forgot entirely her usual resolve to keep her distance from Baoyu and hurried out to help hold him fast.那寶玉雖是個男人，用力摔打，怎奈兩個人死命的抱住不放，也難脫身，歎口氣道：“為一塊玉這樣死命的不放，若是我一個人走了，又待怎麼樣呢？”襲人紫鵑聽到那里，不禁嚎啕大哭起來。Although Baoyu was a man and struggled and shook with all his strength, with the two of them clinging on for dear life he still could not break free. He sighed and said, "Holding on so desperately for the sake of one piece of jade — if I were to go off alone, what then?" On hearing this, Xiren and Zijuan could not help bursting into loud sobs.正在難分難解，王夫人寶釵急忙赶來，見是這樣形景，便哭著喝道：“寶玉，你又瘋了嗎！”寶玉見王夫人來了，明知不能脫身，只得陪笑說道：“這當什麼，又叫太太著急。Just as the struggle was at its most tangled, Lady Wang and Baochai hurried over. Seeing this scene, Lady Wang cried out through tears, "Baoyu, have you gone mad again!" When Baoyu saw that Lady Wang had come, knowing full well he could not get away, he could only force a smile and say, "It's nothing worth this — why make Mother worry again.他們總是這樣大驚小怪的，我說那和尚不近人情，他必要一萬銀子，少一個不能。They're always making such a fuss over nothing. I said that monk was unreasonable — he insists on ten thousand taels of silver, not one less.我生氣進來拿這玉還他，就說是假的，要這玉幹什麼。I got angry and came in to get the jade to give back to him, meaning to tell him it's a fake — what use would he have for this jade anyway.他見得我們不希罕那玉，便隨意給他些就過去了。”王夫人道：“我打諒真要還他，這也罷了。Once he sees that we don't prize the jade, we can just give him a little something and be done with it." Lady Wang said, "I thought you really meant to give it back to him — well, that's all right then.為什麼不告訴明白了他們，叫他們哭哭喊喊的象什麼。”寶釵道：“這麼說呢倒還使得。Why didn't you just explain it to them plainly, instead of having them crying and shouting like that." Baochai said, "Put that way, it would do well enough.要是真拿那玉給他，那和尚有些古怪，倘或一給了他，又鬧到家口不宁，豈不是不成事了么？But if we really gave him the jade, that monk seems rather strange — if we handed it over and it stirred up more trouble and unrest in the household, wouldn't that ruin everything?至于銀錢呢，就把我的頭面折變了，也還夠了呢。”王夫人聽了道：“也罷了，且就這麼辦罷。”寶玉也不回答。As for the money, even if I have to pawn my own headdresses and jewelry, it should still be enough." Hearing this, Lady Wang said, "Very well then, let's do it this way for now." Baoyu made no reply.只見寶釵走上來在寶玉手里拿了這玉，說道：“你也不用出去，我合太太給他錢就是了。”寶玉道：“玉不還他也使得，只是我還得當面見他一見才好。”襲人等仍不肯放手，到底寶釵明決，說：“放了手由他去就是了。”襲人只得放手。Just then Baochai stepped forward and took the jade from Baoyu's hand, saying, "You needn't go out either — Mother and I will give him the money and that will be that." Baoyu said, "It's fine not to give him the jade, but I really ought to go and see him face to face." Xiren and the others still would not let go of him, but Baochai in the end decided the matter firmly, saying, "Let go of him and let him go, that's all." Xiren had no choice but to let go.寶玉笑道：“你們這些人原來重玉不重人哪。Baoyu laughed and said, "So it turns out all of you value the jade more than the person.你們既放了我，我便跟著他走了，看你們就守著那塊玉怎麼樣！”襲人心里又著急起來，仍要拉他，只礙著王夫人和寶釵的面前，又不好太露輕薄。Since you've let go of me, I'll just go off following him — then let's see what good it does you to keep that piece of jade!" Xiren grew anxious again in her heart and wanted to grab him once more, but with Lady Wang and Baochai right there, she could not bring herself to act too rashly.恰好寶玉一撒手就走了。Just then Baoyu shook free and walked off.襲人忙叫小丫頭在三門口傳了焙茗等，”告訴外頭照應著二爺，他有些瘋了。”小丫頭答應了出去。Xiren hurriedly told a little maid to pass word at the third gate to Beiming and the others, "Tell the men outside to look after Second Master — he's gone a bit mad." The little maid assented and went out.

宝玉也不答言，往里就跑，走到自己院内，见宝钗袭人等都到王夫人那里去了，忙向自己床边取了那玉便走出来。迎面碰见了袭人，撞了一个满怀，把袭人唬了一跳，说道：“太太说，你陪著和尚坐著很好，太太在那里打算送他些银两。你又回来做什么？”宝玉道：“你快去回太太，说不用张罗银两了，我把这玉还了他就是了。”袭人听说，即忙拉住宝玉道：“这断使不得的！那玉就是你的命，若是他拿去了，你又要病著了。”宝玉道：“如今不再病的了，我已经有了心了，要那玉何用！”摔脱袭人，便要想走。袭人急得赶著嚷道：“你回来，我告诉你一句话。”宝玉回过头来道：“没有什么说的了。”袭人顾不得什么，一面赶著跑，一面嚷道：“上回丢了玉，几乎没有把我的命要了！刚刚儿的有了，你拿了去，你也活不成，我也活不成了！你要还他，除非是叫我死了！”说著，赶上一把拉住。宝玉急了道：“你死也要还，你不死也要还！”狠命的把袭人一推，抽身要走。怎奈袭人两只手绕著宝玉的带子不放松，哭喊著坐在地下。里面的丫头听见连忙赶来，瞧见他两个人的神情不好，只听见袭人哭道：“快告诉太太去，宝二爷要把那玉去还和尚呢！”丫头赶忙飞报王夫人。那宝玉更加生气，用手来掰开了袭人的手，幸亏袭人忍痛不放。紫鹃在屋里听见宝玉要把玉给人，这一急比别人更甚，把素日冷淡宝玉的主意都忘在九霄云外了，连忙跑出来帮著抱住宝玉。那宝玉虽是个男人，用力摔打，怎奈两个人死命的抱住不放，也难脱身，叹口气道：“为一块玉这样死命的不放，若是我一个人走了，又待怎么样呢？”袭人紫鹃听到那里，不禁嚎啕大哭起来。正在难分难解，王夫人宝钗急忙赶来，见是这样形景，便哭著喝道：“宝玉，你又疯了吗！”宝玉见王夫人来了，明知不能脱身，只得陪笑说道：“这当什么，又叫太太著急。他们总是这样大惊小怪的，我说那和尚不近人情，他必要一万银子，少一个不能。我生气进来拿这玉还他，就说是假的，要这玉干什么。他见得我们不希罕那玉，便随意给他些就过去了。”王夫人道：“我打谅真要还他，这也罢了。为什么不告诉明白了他们，叫他们哭哭喊喊的象什么。”宝钗道：“这么说呢倒还使得。要是真拿那玉给他，那和尚有些古怪，倘或一给了他，又闹到家口不宁，岂不是不成事了么？至于银钱呢，就把我的头面折变了，也还够了呢。”王夫人听了道：“也罢了，且就这么办罢。”宝玉也不回答。只见宝钗走上来在宝玉手里拿了这玉，说道：“你也不用出去，我合太太给他钱就是了。”宝玉道：“玉不还他也使得，只是我还得当面见他一见才好。”袭人等仍不肯放手，到底宝钗明决，说：“放了手由他去就是了。”袭人只得放手。宝玉笑道：“你们这些人原来重玉不重人哪。你们既放了我，我便跟著他走了，看你们就守著那块玉怎么样！”袭人心里又著急起来，仍要拉他，只碍著王夫人和宝钗的面前，又不好太露轻薄。恰好宝玉一撒手就走了。袭人忙叫小丫头在三门口传了焙茗等，”告诉外头照应著二爷，他有些疯了。”小丫头答应了出去。

王夫人寶釵等進來坐下，問起襲人來由，襲人便將寶玉的話細細說了。Lady Wang, Baochai and the others came in and sat down, and asked Xiren what had happened. Xiren then related Baoyu's words in full detail.王夫人寶釵甚是不放心，又叫人出去吩咐眾人伺候，聽著和尚說些什麼。Lady Wang and Baochai were extremely uneasy, and sent someone out again to tell everyone to stay attentive and listen for whatever the monk might say.回來小丫頭傳話進來回王夫人道：“二爺真有些瘋了。When the little maid came back, she brought word in to Lady Wang: "Second Master really has gone a bit mad.外頭小廝們說，里頭不給他玉，他也沒法，如今身子出來了，求著那和尚帶了他去。”王夫人聽了說道：“這還了得！The houseboys outside say that since he couldn't get the jade from inside, there was nothing else he could do, so now that he himself has come out, he is begging the monk to take him along." On hearing this, Lady Wang said, "This is outrageous!那和尚說什麼來著？”小丫頭回道：“和尚說要玉不要人。”寶釵道：“不要銀子了么？”小丫頭道：“沒聽見說，後來和尚和二爺兩個人說著笑著，有好些話外頭小廝們都不大懂。”王夫人道：“糊涂東西，聽不出來，學是自然學得來的。”便叫小丫頭：“你把那小廝叫進來。”小丫頭連忙出去叫進那小廝，站在廊下，隔著窗戶請了安。What did the monk say?" The little maid replied, "The monk said he wants the jade, not the person." Baochai said, "So he no longer wants the silver?" The little maid said, "I didn't hear anything said about that. Afterward the monk and Second Master were talking and laughing together, and there was a good deal said that the houseboys outside couldn't quite understand." Lady Wang said, "Muddleheaded creatures — if they couldn't make it out, they could at least have picked it up by repeating it." She then told the little maid, "Bring that houseboy in here." The little maid hurried out and brought the boy in, who stood beneath the veranda and paid his respects through the window.王夫人便問道：“和尚和二爺的話你們不懂，難道學也學不來嗎？”那小廝回道：“我們只聽見說什麼‘大荒山’，什麼‘青埂峰’，又說什麼‘太虛境’，‘斬斷塵緣’這些話。”王夫人聽了也不懂。Lady Wang then asked, "You didn't understand what the monk and Second Master said — but surely you could at least repeat it?" The boy replied, "We only heard things like 'Dahuang Mountain,' 'Qinggeng Peak,' and then something about the 'Taixu Realm,' 'cutting off the ties of the mortal world' — words like that." Hearing this, Lady Wang did not understand it either.寶釵聽了，唬得兩眼直瞪，半句話都沒有了。Hearing this, Baochai was so startled her eyes went wide and staring, and she could not utter half a word.正要叫人出去拉寶玉進來，只見寶玉笑嘻嘻的進來說：“好了，好了。”寶釵仍是發怔。Just as she was about to send someone out to pull Baoyu back inside, Baoyu came in smiling broadly and said, "It's settled, it's settled." Baochai still sat there in a daze.王夫人道：“你瘋瘋顛顛的說的是什麼？”寶玉道：“正經話又說我瘋顛。Lady Wang said, "What is this mad raving of yours about?" Baoyu said, "I speak in earnest and you still call it madness.那和尚與我原是認得的，他不過也是要來見我一見。That monk and I already know each other — he simply wanted to come and see me once more.他何嘗是真要銀子呢，也只當化個善緣就是了。When did he ever really want the silver — he was only seeking a bit of a good-karma donation, that's all.所以說明了他自己就飄然而去了。So once things were made clear, he drifted off on his own.這可不是好了么！”王夫人不信，又隔著窗戶問那小廝。Isn't that a good outcome!" Lady Wang did not believe it, and again questioned the houseboy through the window.那小廝連忙出去問了門上的人，進來回說：“果然和尚走了。The houseboy hurried out to ask the gatekeeper, then came back in to report, "It's true, the monk has left.說請太太們放心，我原不要銀子，只要寶二爺時常到他那里去去就是了。He said to tell the ladies to set their minds at ease — he never really wanted the silver, only that Second Master Bao come visit him there from time to time.諸事只要隨緣，自有一定的道理。”王夫人道：“原來是個好和尚，你們曾問住在那里？”門上道：“奴才也問來著，他說我們二爺是知道的。”王夫人問寶玉道：“他到底住在那里？”寶玉笑道：“這個地方說遠就遠，說近就近。”寶釵不待說完，便道：“你醒醒兒罷，別盡著迷在里頭。In all things, just follow karma's course, and there's a fixed reason to it." Lady Wang said, "So he was a good monk after all — did you ask where he lives?" The gatekeeper said, "This servant did ask, and he said our Second Master already knows." Lady Wang asked Baoyu, "Where does he actually live?" Baoyu said with a smile, "This place is far if you call it far, and near if you call it near." Before he had even finished, Baochai broke in, "Wake up now, don't go on being lost in all this.現在老爺太太就疼你一個人，老爺還吩咐叫你干功名長進呢。”寶玉道：“我說的不是功名么！Right now your father and mother dote on you alone, and your father has even instructed that you make progress toward an official career." Baoyu said, "Wasn't I just talking about a career!你們不知道，‘一子出家，七祖升天’呢。”王夫人聽到那里，不覺傷心起來，說：“我們的家運怎麼好，一個四丫頭口口聲聲要出家，如今又添出一個來了。You don't know — 'when one son leaves home to become a monk, seven generations of ancestors ascend to heaven.'" Hearing this, Lady Wang could not help growing distressed, and said, "How can our family's fortune possibly be good — one girl, Fourth Miss, keeps saying over and over that she wants to become a nun, and now here's another one added to it.我這樣個日子過他做什麼！”說著，大哭起來。What's the use of my living out my days like this!" So saying, she burst into loud weeping.寶釵見王夫人傷心，只得上前苦勸。Seeing Lady Wang so distressed, Baochai had no choice but to come forward and earnestly console her.寶玉笑道：“我說了這一句頑話，太太又認起真來了。”王夫人止住哭聲道：“這些話也是混說的么！”正鬧著，只見丫頭來回話：“璉二爺回來了，顏色大變，說請太太回去說話。”王夫人又吃了一驚，說道：“將就些，叫他進來罷，小嬸子也是舊親，不用回避了。”賈璉進來，見了王夫人請了安。Baoyu said with a smile, "I only said that one thing in jest, and Mother is taking it seriously again." Lady Wang, checking her tears, said, "Are such words the kind of thing to say in jest!" Just as this commotion was going on, a maid came to report, "Second Master Lian has come back, his face completely changed, and he says he wishes to speak with Madam." Lady Wang was startled all over again, and said, "Never mind formalities, have him come in — his young aunt is old family too, no need to avoid her." Jia Lian came in, and having seen Lady Wang, paid his respects.寶釵迎著也問了賈璉的安。Baochai went forward as well and asked after Jia Lian.回說道：“剛才接了我父親的書信，說是病重的很，叫我就去，若遲了恐怕不能見面。”說到那里，眼淚便掉下來了。He replied, saying, "I've just received a letter from my father — it says he is gravely ill and tells me to come at once; if I delay, I fear I won't be able to see him." As he said this, tears fell from his eyes.王夫人道：“書上寫的是什麼病？”賈璉道：“寫的是感冒風寒起來的，如今成了癆病了。Lady Wang said, "What illness does the letter say it is?" Jia Lian said, "It says it started from catching a cold, and has now turned into consumption.現在危急，專差一個人連日連夜赶來的，說如若再耽擱一兩天就不能見面了。It's critical now — he sent a man specially, riding day and night to get here, saying that if it's delayed even another day or two, there'll be no chance to see him alive.故來回太太，侄兒必得就去才好。So I've come to report to you, Aunt — your nephew really must go at once.只是家里沒人照管。It's only that there's no one at home to look after things.薔兒芸兒雖說糊涂，到底是個男人，外頭有了事來還可傳個話。Qiang'er and Yun'er, muddled as they may be, are men after all, and if something comes up outside, they can at least pass word along.侄兒家里倒沒有什麼事，秋桐是天天哭著喊著不願意在這里，侄兒叫了他娘家的人來領了去了，倒省了平兒好些氣。There's really nothing much going on in my own household — Qiutong cries and carries on every day, unwilling to stay here, so I've had her own family come and take her away, which has spared Ping'er a good deal of aggravation.雖是巧姐沒人照應，還虧平兒的心不很坏。Though Qiaojie has no one else to look after her, fortunately Ping'er's heart is not a bad one.妞兒心里也明白，只是性氣比他娘還剛硬些，求太太時常管教管教他。”說著眼圈兒一紅，連忙把腰里拴檳榔荷包的小絹子拉下來擦眼。Niu'er is sensible enough at heart, only her temper is even more stubborn than her mother's — I beg you, Aunt, to keep an eye on her and discipline her now and then." As he said this, his eyes reddened, and he hastily pulled down the little silk cloth tied to the betel-nut pouch at his waist to wipe his eyes.王夫人道：“放著他親祖母在那里，托我做什麼。”賈璉輕輕的說道：“太太要說這個話，侄兒就該活活兒的打死了。Lady Wang said, "With her own grandmother right there, why entrust her to me?" Jia Lian said softly, "If you speak like that, Aunt, your nephew deserves to be beaten to death on the spot.沒什麼說的，總求太太始終疼侄兒就是了。”說著，就跪下來了。There's nothing more to say — I only beg you, Aunt, to go on caring for your nephew to the end." So saying, he knelt down.王夫人也眼圈兒紅了，說：“你快起來，娘兒們說話兒，這是怎麼說。Lady Wang's eyes reddened too, and she said, "Get up quickly — we're just talking between mother and son here, what is this.只是一件，孩子也大了，倘或你父親有個一差二錯又耽擱住了，或者有個門當戶對的來說親，還是等你回來，還是你太太作主？”賈璉道：“現在太太們在家，自然是太太們做主，不必等我。”王夫人道：“你要去，就寫了稟帖給二老爺送個信，說家下無人，你父親不知怎樣，快請二老爺將老太太的大事早早的完結，快快回來。”賈璉答應了“是”，正要走出去，复轉回來回說道：“咱們家的家下人家里還夠使喚，只是園里沒有人太空了。Just one thing — the child is growing up now. Suppose, heaven forbid, something happens to your father and you're detained there, or a suitable match comes along to propose marriage — should we wait for your return, or should your wife decide?" Jia Lian said, "With the ladies here at home, it should naturally be the ladies who decide — there's no need to wait for me." Lady Wang said, "If you're going, write out a report and send word to your Second Uncle, saying there's no one at home and that your father's condition is uncertain — ask him please to finish up your grandmother's affairs quickly and come home as soon as possible." Jia Lian assented with a "Yes," and was just about to go out when he turned back and said, "The household servants here at home are still enough to manage things, it's only that the Garden has no one in it and is far too empty.包勇又跟了他們老爺去了。Bao Yong has gone off following his master too.姨太太住的房子，薛二爺已搬到自己的房子內住了。As for the rooms Aunt Xue used to live in, Xue the Second has already moved into his own house.園里一帶屋子都空著，忒沒照應，還得太太叫人常查看查看。The whole row of buildings in the Garden stands empty, quite unattended — you'll still need to have someone check on it regularly, Aunt.那櫳翠庵原是咱們家的地基，如今妙玉不知那里去了，所有的根基他的當家女尼不敢自己作主，要求府里一個人管理管理。”王夫人道：“自己的事還鬧不清，還擱得住外頭的事么。That Longcui Nunnery was originally built on our family's land — now that Miaoyu has gone off no one knows where, the nun in charge there doesn't dare decide matters on her own regarding all the property, and asks that someone from our household take charge of managing it." Lady Wang said, "I can't even sort out our own affairs, how could I possibly take on outside matters as well.這句話好歹別叫四丫頭知道，若是他知道了，又要吵著出家的念頭出來了。Whatever happens, don't let Fourth Miss hear this — if she finds out, she'll start clamoring about her idea of becoming a nun again.你想咱們家什麼樣的人家，好好的姑娘出了家，還了得！”賈璉道：“太太不提起侄兒也不敢說，四妹妹到底是東府里的，又沒有父母，他親哥哥又在外頭，他親嫂子又不大說的上話。Just think what kind of family ours is — a perfectly good young lady becoming a nun, how could that be allowed!" Jia Lian said, "If you hadn't brought it up, Aunt, your nephew wouldn't have dared mention it either. Fourth Sister belongs to the Ning Mansion side of the family after all, and has no parents; her own elder brother is away from home, and her own sister-in-law isn't someone she can really talk to.侄兒聽見要尋死覓活了好幾次。Your nephew has heard that she's threatened to take her own life several times already.他既是心里這麼著的了，若是牛著他，將來倘或認真尋了死，比出家更不好了。”王夫人聽了點頭道：“這件事真真叫我也難擔。Since her heart is already set this way, if we force her against it and she someday truly does take her own life, that would be even worse than her becoming a nun." Hearing this, Lady Wang nodded and said, "This matter truly is a hard one for me to bear responsibility for too.我也做不得主，由他大嫂子去就是了。”I can't decide this either — let her elder sister-in-law handle it, that's all.

王夫人宝钗等进来坐下，问起袭人来由，袭人便将宝玉的话细细说了。王夫人宝钗甚是不放心，又叫人出去吩咐众人伺候，听著和尚说些什么。回来小丫头传话进来回王夫人道：“二爷真有些疯了。外头小厮们说，里头不给他玉，他也没法，如今身子出来了，求著那和尚带了他去。”王夫人听了说道：“这还了得！那和尚说什么来著？”小丫头回道：“和尚说要玉不要人。”宝钗道：“不要银子了么？”小丫头道：“没听见说，后来和尚和二爷两个人说著笑著，有好些话外头小厮们都不大懂。”王夫人道：“糊涂东西，听不出来，学是自然学得来的。”便叫小丫头：“你把那小厮叫进来。”小丫头连忙出去叫进那小厮，站在廊下，隔著窗户请了安。王夫人便问道：“和尚和二爷的话你们不懂，难道学也学不来吗？”那小厮回道：“我们只听见说什么‘大荒山’，什么‘青埂峰’，又说什么‘太虚境’，‘斩断尘缘’这些话。”王夫人听了也不懂。宝钗听了，唬得两眼直瞪，半句话都没有了。正要叫人出去拉宝玉进来，只见宝玉笑嘻嘻的进来说：“好了，好了。”宝钗仍是发怔。王夫人道：“你疯疯颠颠的说的是什么？”宝玉道：“正经话又说我疯颠。那和尚与我原是认得的，他不过也是要来见我一见。他何尝是真要银子呢，也只当化个善缘就是了。所以说明了他自己就飘然而去了。这可不是好了么！”王夫人不信，又隔著窗户问那小厮。那小厮连忙出去问了门上的人，进来回说：“果然和尚走了。说请太太们放心，我原不要银子，只要宝二爷时常到他那里去去就是了。诸事只要随缘，自有一定的道理。”王夫人道：“原来是个好和尚，你们曾问住在那里？”门上道：“奴才也问来著，他说我们二爷是知道的。”王夫人问宝玉道：“他到底住在那里？”宝玉笑道：“这个地方说远就远，说近就近。”宝钗不待说完，便道：“你醒醒儿罢，别尽著迷在里头。现在老爷太太就疼你一个人，老爷还吩咐叫你干功名长进呢。”宝玉道：“我说的不是功名么！你们不知道，‘一子出家，七祖升天’呢。”王夫人听到那里，不觉伤心起来，说：“我们的家运怎么好，一个四丫头口口声声要出家，如今又添出一个来了。我这样个日子过他做什么！”说著，大哭起来。宝钗见王夫人伤心，只得上前苦劝。宝玉笑道：“我说了这一句顽话，太太又认起真来了。”王夫人止住哭声道：“这些话也是混说的么！”正闹著，只见丫头来回话：“琏二爷回来了，颜色大变，说请太太回去说话。”王夫人又吃了一惊，说道：“将就些，叫他进来罢，小婶子也是旧亲，不用回避了。”贾琏进来，见了王夫人请了安。宝钗迎著也问了贾琏的安。回说道：“刚才接了我父亲的书信，说是病重的很，叫我就去，若迟了恐怕不能见面。”说到那里，眼泪便掉下来了。王夫人道：“书上写的是什么病？”贾琏道：“写的是感冒风寒起来的，如今成了痨病了。现在危急，专差一个人连日连夜赶来的，说如若再耽搁一两天就不能见面了。故来回太太，侄儿必得就去才好。只是家里没人照管。蔷儿芸儿虽说糊涂，到底是个男人，外头有了事来还可传个话。侄儿家里倒没有什么事，秋桐是天天哭著喊著不愿意在这里，侄儿叫了他娘家的人来领了去了，倒省了平儿好些气。虽是巧姐没人照应，还亏平儿的心不很坏。妞儿心里也明白，只是性气比他娘还刚硬些，求太太时常管教管教他。”说著眼圈儿一红，连忙把腰里拴槟榔荷包的小绢子拉下来擦眼。王夫人道：“放著他亲祖母在那里，托我做什么。”贾琏轻轻的说道：“太太要说这个话，侄儿就该活活儿的打死了。没什么说的，总求太太始终疼侄儿就是了。”说著，就跪下来了。王夫人也眼圈儿红了，说：“你快起来，娘儿们说话儿，这是怎么说。只是一件，孩子也大了，倘或你父亲有个一差二错又耽搁住了，或者有个门当户对的来说亲，还是等你回来，还是你太太作主？”贾琏道：“现在太太们在家，自然是太太们做主，不必等我。”王夫人道：“你要去，就写了禀帖给二老爷送个信，说家下无人，你父亲不知怎样，快请二老爷将老太太的大事早早的完结，快快回来。”贾琏答应了“是”，正要走出去，复转回来回说道：“咱们家的家下人家里还够使唤，只是园里没有人太空了。包勇又跟了他们老爷去了。姨太太住的房子，薛二爷已搬到自己的房子内住了。园里一带屋子都空著，忒没照应，还得太太叫人常查看查看。那栊翠庵原是咱们家的地基，如今妙玉不知那里去了，所有的根基他的当家女尼不敢自己作主，要求府里一个人管理管理。”王夫人道：“自己的事还闹不清，还搁得住外头的事么。这句话好歹别叫四丫头知道，若是他知道了，又要吵著出家的念头出来了。你想咱们家什么样的人家，好好的姑娘出了家，还了得！”贾琏道：“太太不提起侄儿也不敢说，四妹妹到底是东府里的，又没有父母，他亲哥哥又在外头，他亲嫂子又不大说的上话。侄儿听见要寻死觅活了好几次。他既是心里这么著的了，若是牛著他，将来倘或认真寻了死，比出家更不好了。”王夫人听了点头道：“这件事真真叫我也难担。我也做不得主，由他大嫂子去就是了。”

賈璉又說了幾句才出來，叫了眾家人來交待清楚，寫了書，收拾了行裝，平兒等不免叮嚀了好些話。Jia Lian said a few more words before coming out. He called all the household servants to give them clear instructions, wrote letters, and packed his luggage, while Ping'er and the others could not help repeating many words of caution to him.只有巧姐兒慘傷的了不得，賈璉又欲托王仁照應，巧姐到底不願意，聽見外頭托了芸薔二人，心里更不受用，嘴里卻說不出來，只得送了他父親，謹謹慎慎的隨著平兒過日子。Only Qiaojie was grieved beyond measure. Jia Lian also wanted to entrust her to Wang Ren's care, but Qiaojie was unwilling in the end; and when she heard that Yun and Qiang had been entrusted with matters outside, she felt even more uneasy at heart, though she could not put it into words. She had no choice but to see her father off, and lived on cautiously day by day under Ping'er's care.丰兒小紅因鳳姐去世，告假的告假，告病的告病，平兒意欲接了家中一個姑娘來，一則給巧姐作伴，二則可以帶量他。Since Feng Jie had passed away, Fenger and Xiaohong, one taking leave and the other pleading illness, had both been absent, and Ping'er wished to bring in some young lady from a relative's household — partly to keep Qiaojie company, and partly so she could look after and guide her.遍想無人，只有喜鸞四姐兒是賈母舊日鐘愛的，偏偏四姐兒新近出了嫁了，喜鸞也有了人家兒，不日就要出閣，也只得罷了。She thought over everyone she could think of, but there was no one suitable — only Xiluan and Fourth Sister had once been especially favored by the Old Ancestress, but as luck would have it, Fourth Sister had only just married, and Xiluan too now had a match arranged and would soon be married off herself, so in the end there was nothing to be done.

贾琏又说了几句才出来，叫了众家人来交待清楚，写了书，收拾了行装，平儿等不免叮咛了好些话。只有巧姐儿惨伤的了不得，贾琏又欲托王仁照应，巧姐到底不愿意，听见外头托了芸蔷二人，心里更不受用，嘴里却说不出来，只得送了他父亲，谨谨慎慎的随著平儿过日子。丰儿小红因凤姐去世，告假的告假，告病的告病，平儿意欲接了家中一个姑娘来，一则给巧姐作伴，二则可以带量他。遍想无人，只有喜鸾四姐儿是贾母旧日钟爱的，偏偏四姐儿新近出了嫁了，喜鸾也有了人家儿，不日就要出阁，也只得罢了。

且說賈芸賈薔送了賈璉，便進來見了邢王二夫人。Meanwhile, Jia Yun and Jia Qiang, having seen Jia Lian off, came in and paid their respects to Lady Xing and Lady Wang.他兩個倒替著在外書房住下，日間便與家人廝鬧，有時找了幾個朋友吃個車箍轆會，甚至聚賭，里頭那里知道。The two of them took turns staying in the outer study, and during the day they roughhoused with the servants, sometimes gathering a few friends for a round-robin drinking party, even going so far as to gamble together — and no one inside the household knew anything of it.一日邢大舅王仁來，瞧見了賈芸賈薔住在這里，知他熱鬧，也就借著照看的名兒時常在外書房設局賭錢喝酒。One day Wang Ren, Lady Xing's brother, came by, and seeing that Jia Yun and Jia Qiang were staying there and that things were lively, he too, under the pretext of keeping an eye on things, began often setting up gambling tables and drinking parties in the outer study.所有幾個正經的家人，賈政帶了幾個去，賈璉又跟去了幾個，只有那賴林諸家的兒子侄兒。As for the few decent household servants, Jia Zheng had taken some with him, and Jia Lian had taken several more along as well, leaving only the sons and nephews of families like the Lais and the Lins.那些少年托著老子娘的福吃喝慣了的，那知當家立計的道理。Those young men, who had grown used to eating and drinking off their parents' good fortune, knew nothing whatsoever of the principles of managing a household or planning for the future.況且他們長輩都不在家，便是沒籠頭的馬了，又有兩個旁主人慫恿，無不樂為。What's more, with their elders all away from home, they were like horses without bridles, and with two outside instigators egging them on besides, there was nothing they were not glad to do.這一鬧，把個榮國府鬧得沒上沒下，沒里沒外。This carrying-on threw the whole Rongguo mansion into disorder — no distinction of high or low, no distinction of inside or outside.那賈薔還想勾引寶玉，賈芸攔住道：“寶二爺那個人沒運氣的，不用惹他。Jia Qiang even wanted to draw Baoyu into it, but Jia Yun stopped him, saying, "That Second Master Bao is a person with no luck to him — there's no point provoking him.那一年我給他說了一門子絕好的親，父親在外頭做稅官，家里開幾個當舖，姑娘長的比仙女兒還好看。That year I arranged an absolutely excellent match for him — the father was out serving as a tax official, the family ran several pawnshops, and the young lady was even more beautiful than a fairy.我巴巴兒的細細的寫了一封書子給他，誰知他沒造化，——”說到這里，瞧了瞧左右無人，又說：“他心里早和咱們這個二嬸娘好上了。I took great pains to write him a detailed letter about it — who could have known he had no such fortune coming to him—" At this point he glanced around to make sure no one else was near, and went on, "In his heart he had already fallen for our own Second Aunt here.你沒聽見說，還有一個林姑娘呢，弄的害了相思病死的，誰不知道。Haven't you heard — there was also that Miss Lin, who ended up sick with lovesickness and died of it; who doesn't know that.這也罷了，各自的姻緣罷咧。Well, never mind that — everyone has their own fated match, that's all.誰知他為這件事倒惱了我了，總不大理。Who'd have thought that because of this matter he actually got angry at me instead, and hardly pays me any attention now.他打諒誰必是借誰的光兒呢。”賈薔聽了點點頭，才把這個心歇了。He must imagine that anyone who comes near him is only trying to ride on his coattails." Hearing this, Jia Qiang nodded and finally let go of the idea.

且说贾芸贾蔷送了贾琏，便进来见了邢王二夫人。他两个倒替著在外书房住下，日间便与家人厮闹，有时找了几个朋友吃个车箍辘会，甚至聚赌，里头那里知道。一日邢大舅王仁来，瞧见了贾芸贾蔷住在这里，知他热闹，也就借著照看的名儿时常在外书房设局赌钱喝酒。所有几个正经的家人，贾政带了几个去，贾琏又跟去了几个，只有那赖林诸家的儿子侄儿。那些少年托著老子娘的福吃喝惯了的，那知当家立计的道理。况且他们长辈都不在家，便是没笼头的马了，又有两个旁主人怂恿，无不乐为。这一闹，把个荣国府闹得没上没下，没里没外。那贾蔷还想勾引宝玉，贾芸拦住道：“宝二爷那个人没运气的，不用惹他。那一年我给他说了一门子绝好的亲，父亲在外头做税官，家里开几个当铺，姑娘长的比仙女儿还好看。我巴巴儿的细细的写了一封书子给他，谁知他没造化，——”说到这里，瞧了瞧左右无人，又说：“他心里早和咱们这个二婶娘好上了。你没听见说，还有一个林姑娘呢，弄的害了相思病死的，谁不知道。这也罢了，各自的姻缘罢咧。谁知他为这件事倒恼了我了，总不大理。他打谅谁必是借谁的光儿呢。”贾蔷听了点点头，才把这个心歇了。

他兩個還不知道寶玉自會那和尚以後，他是欲斷塵緣。The two of them still did not know that ever since Baoyu had met with that monk, he had wished to cut off all ties to the mortal world.一則在王夫人跟前不敢任性，已與寶釵襲人等皆不大款洽了。For one thing, he did not dare act willfully in front of Lady Wang, and he had already grown rather distant from Baochai, Xiren, and the others.那些丫頭不知道，還要逗他，寶玉那里看得到眼里。Those maids, not knowing this, still tried to tease and amuse him, but Baoyu paid them not the slightest attention.他也并不將家事放在心里。Nor did he give any thought to household affairs at all.時常王夫人寶釵勸他念書，他便假作攻書，一心想著那個和尚引他到那仙境的机關。Whenever Lady Wang and Baochai urged him to study, he would only pretend to apply himself to his books, his mind entirely fixed on the mechanism by which that monk might lead him to that immortal realm.心目中触處皆為俗人，卻在家難受，閒來倒與惜春閒講。In his eyes, everyone he encountered seemed a creature of the vulgar world, and he found it hard to bear staying at home; in his idle moments, though, he liked to sit and talk with Xichun.他們兩個人講得上了，那种心更加准了幾分，那里還管賈環賈蘭等。Once the two of them fell into conversation, that certain resolve of his grew all the firmer, and he cared even less about Jia Huan, Jia Lan, and the rest.那賈環為他父親不在家，趙姨娘已死，王夫人不大理會他，便入了賈薔一路。As for Jia Huan, with his father away from home, Concubine Zhao already dead, and Lady Wang paying him little attention, he fell in with Jia Qiang's crowd.倒是彩雲時常規勸，反被賈環辱罵。Caiyun did often try to counsel him, but was only cursed and abused by Jia Huan for her trouble.玉釧兒見寶玉瘋顛更甚，早和他娘說了要求著出去。Yuchuan'er, seeing that Baoyu's strange behavior had grown even worse, had already spoken to her mother, asking to be allowed to leave service.如今寶玉賈環他哥兒兩個各有一种脾氣，鬧得人人不理。Now Baoyu and Jia Huan, the two of them, each had their own particular temperament, carrying on in ways that made everyone want nothing to do with them.獨有賈蘭跟著他母親上緊攻書，作了文字送到學里請教代儒。Jia Lan alone, following his mother's guidance, applied himself diligently to his studies, writing compositions and sending them to the family school for Dairu's instruction.因近來代儒老病在床，只得自己刻苦。Since old Dairu had lately taken sick and was confined to bed, Jia Lan had no choice but to work hard on his own.李紈是素來沉靜，除了請王夫人的安，會會寶釵，餘者一步不走，只有看著賈蘭攻書。Li Wan, being reserved and quiet by nature as always, went nowhere else at all except to pay her respects to Lady Wang and to visit with Baochai now and then, devoting herself otherwise entirely to watching over Jia Lan's studies.所以榮府住的人雖不少，竟是各自過各自的，誰也不肯做誰的主。So although there were no few people living in the Rongguo mansion, each went their own separate way, and none was willing to answer to another.賈環賈薔等愈鬧的不象事了，甚至偷典偷賣，不一而足。Jia Huan, Jia Qiang and the rest carried on ever more outrageously, going so far as to secretly pawn and sell off property, among no small number of other such doings.賈環更加宿娼濫賭，無所不為。Jia Huan, worse still, took to whoring and reckless gambling, stopping at nothing.

他两个还不知道宝玉自会那和尚以后，他是欲断尘缘。一则在王夫人跟前不敢任性，已与宝钗袭人等皆不大款洽了。那些丫头不知道，还要逗他，宝玉那里看得到眼里。他也并不将家事放在心里。时常王夫人宝钗劝他念书，他便假作攻书，一心想著那个和尚引他到那仙境的机关。心目中触处皆为俗人，却在家难受，闲来倒与惜春闲讲。他们两个人讲得上了，那种心更加准了几分，那里还管贾环贾兰等。那贾环为他父亲不在家，赵姨娘已死，王夫人不大理会他，便入了贾蔷一路。倒是彩云时常规劝，反被贾环辱骂。玉钏儿见宝玉疯颠更甚，早和他娘说了要求著出去。如今宝玉贾环他哥儿两个各有一种脾气，闹得人人不理。独有贾兰跟著他母亲上紧攻书，作了文字送到学里请教代儒。因近来代儒老病在床，只得自己刻苦。李纨是素来沉静，除了请王夫人的安，会会宝钗，余者一步不走，只有看著贾兰攻书。所以荣府住的人虽不少，竟是各自过各自的，谁也不肯做谁的主。贾环贾蔷等愈闹的不象事了，甚至偷典偷卖，不一而足。贾环更加宿娼滥赌，无所不为。

一日邢大舅王仁都在賈家外書房喝酒，一時高興，叫了幾個陪酒的來唱著喝著勸酒。One day Wang Ren, Lady Xing's brother, was drinking with the others in the outer study of the Jia household, and in a moment of high spirits called in several hostesses to sing, drink, and press wine on everyone.賈薔便說：“你們鬧的太俗。Jia Qiang then said, "The way you're all carrying on is far too dull and common.我要行個令兒。”眾人道：“使得。”賈薔道：“咱們‘月’字流觴罷。I want to run a drinking game." Everyone said, "Fine." Jia Qiang said, "Let's do a floating-cup game on the character 'moon.'我先說起‘月’字，數到那個便是那個喝酒，還要酒面酒底。I'll start off with the character 'moon,' and whoever the count lands on drinks — and each has to give an opening line and a closing line to go with the cup.須得依著令官，不依者罰三大杯。”眾人都依了。Everyone must obey the game master; whoever doesn't will be fined three large cups." Everyone agreed.賈薔喝了一杯令酒，便說：“飛羽觴而醉月。”順飲數到賈環。Jia Qiang drank a cup to start the game, and said, "'Let the winged cups fly and grow drunk beneath the moon.'" The count then went round in order and landed on Jia Huan.賈薔說：“酒面要個‘桂’字。”賈環便說道“‘冷露無聲濕桂花’。Jia Qiang said, "The opening line must contain the character 'osmanthus.'" Jia Huan then said, "'Cold dew falls silent, moistening the osmanthus blooms.'酒底呢？”賈薔道：“說個‘香’字。”賈環道：“天香雲外飄。”大舅說道：“沒趣，沒趣。And the closing line?" Jia Qiang said, "Give one with the character 'fragrance.'" Jia Huan said, "Heavenly fragrance drifts beyond the clouds." Wang Ren said, "No fun, no fun.你又懂得什麼字了，也假斯文起來！What characters do you even know, that you're putting on such airs of refinement too!這不是取樂，竟是慪人了。This isn't for fun at all — it's downright vexing people.咱們都蠲了，倒是搳搳拳，輸家喝輸家唱，叫做‘苦中苦’。Let's drop all that, and instead play finger-guessing games — the loser drinks and the loser sings, called 'bitterness within bitterness.'若是不會唱的，說個笑話兒也使得，只要有趣。”眾人都道：“使得。”于是亂搳起來。"If someone can't sing, telling a joke will do just as well, so long as it's amusing." Everyone said, "That'll do." And so they fell into a lively round of finger-guessing.王仁輸了，喝了一杯，唱了一個。Wang Ren lost, drank a cup, and sang a song.眾人道好，又搳起來了。Everyone praised it, and they started the game again.是個陪酒的輸了，唱了一個什麼“小姐小姐多丰彩”。One of the drinking companions lost, and sang something like "Young lady, young lady, so full of charm."以後邢大舅輸了，眾人要他唱曲兒，他道：“我唱不上來的，我說個笑話兒罷。”賈薔道：“若說不笑仍要罰的。”邢大舅就喝了杯，便說道：“諸位聽著：村庄上有一座元帝廟，旁邊有個土地祠。Afterward Uncle Xing lost, and everyone demanded he sing a tune. He said, "I can't manage a song, I'll tell a joke instead." Jia Qiang said, "If you tell it and it isn't funny, you'll still be penalized." Uncle Xing then drank a cup and said, "Listen, everyone: in a certain village there was a Xuandi Temple, and beside it an Earth God shrine.那元帝老爺常叫土地來說閒話兒。That Lord Xuandi often used to call the Earth God over for a chat.一日元帝廟里被了盜，便叫土地去查訪。One day the Xuandi Temple was robbed, so he sent the Earth God to investigate.土地稟道：‘這地方沒有賊的，必是神將不小心，被外賊偷了東西去。’元帝道：‘胡說，你是土地，失了盜不問你問誰去呢？The Earth God reported, 'There are no thieves in this locality — it must be that the guardian spirits were careless, and outside thieves made off with the things.' Lord Xuandi said, 'Nonsense! You are the Earth God — if there's a robbery, who else should be asked but you?你倒不去拿賊，反說我的神將不小心嗎？’土地稟道：‘雖說是不小心，到底是廟里的風水不好。’元帝道：‘你倒會看風水么？’土地道：‘待小神看看。’那土地向各處瞧了一會，便來回稟道：‘老爺坐的身子背後兩扇紅門就不謹慎。'Instead of going to catch the thief, you turn around and say my guardian spirits were careless?' The Earth God reported, 'Careless or not, in the end it comes down to the temple's fengshui being bad.' Lord Xuandi said, 'So you know how to read fengshui, do you?' The Earth God said, 'Let this humble spirit have a look.' The Earth God looked about everywhere for a while, then came back and reported: 'My lord, behind where you sit, those two red doors are not secure at all.小神坐的背後是砌的牆，自然東西丟不了。'Behind where this humble spirit sits there is a built wall, so naturally nothing can ever be lost there.以後老爺的背後亦改了牆就好了。’元帝老爺聽來有理，便叫神將派人打牆。'If in future a wall is put up behind you as well, my lord, all will be well.' Lord Xuandi found this reasonable, and ordered his guardian generals to send men to build the wall.眾神將歎口氣道：‘如今香火一炷也沒有，那里有磚灰人工來打牆！’元帝老爺沒法，叫眾神將作法，卻都沒有主意。The guardian generals sighed and said, 'These days there isn't even a single stick of incense burning for us — where would we get the bricks, mortar, and labor to build a wall!' Lord Xuandi, at his wits' end, told the generals to work something out by magic, but not one of them had any idea.那元帝老爺腳下的龜將軍站起來道：‘你們不中用，我有主意。Then the Tortoise General stationed beneath Lord Xuandi's feet stood up and said, 'You lot are useless — I have an idea.你們將紅門拆下來，到了夜里拿我的肚子墊住這門口，難道當不得一堵牆么？’眾神將都說道：‘好，又不花錢，又便當結實。’于是龜將軍便當這個差使，竟安靜了。'Take the red doors down, and at night have my belly block up the doorway instead — won't that serve every bit as well as a wall?' All the guardian generals said, 'Excellent — it costs no money, and it's both handy and sturdy.' So the Tortoise General took on this duty, and things were quiet indeed.豈知過了幾天，那廟里又丟了東西。Who would have thought that after a few days, things went missing from the temple once again.眾神將叫了土地來說道：‘你說砌了牆就不丟東西，怎麼如今有了牆還要丟？’那土地道：‘這牆砌的不結實。’眾神將道：‘你瞧去。’土地一看，果然是一堵好牆，怎麼還有失事？The guardian generals summoned the Earth God and said, 'You said once a wall was built nothing would go missing — how is it that now there's a wall and things are still being lost?' The Earth God said, 'This wall wasn't built solidly.' The generals said, 'Go and look for yourself.' The Earth God took a look — it truly was a fine, solid wall — so how could things still be disappearing?把手摸了一摸道：‘我打諒是真牆，那里知道是個假牆！’”眾人聽了大笑起來。He reached out and felt it with his hand, and said, 'I had taken it for a real wall — who would have guessed it was a false one!'" Everyone burst out laughing at this.賈薔也忍不住的笑，說道：“傻大舅，你好！Jia Qiang, unable to hold back his own laughter, said, "Silly Uncle Xing, well done!我沒有罵你，你為什麼罵我！I never cursed you — why did you curse me!快拿杯來罰一大杯。”邢大舅喝了，已有醉意。Quick, bring a cup and fine him a big one." Uncle Xing drank it down, and was already growing tipsy.眾人又喝了幾杯，都醉起來。Everyone drank several more cups, and all grew drunk.邢大舅說他姐姐不好，王仁說他妹妹不好，都說的狠狠毒毒的。Uncle Xing began saying his elder sister was no good, Wang Ren began saying his younger sister was no good, both speaking harshly and viciously.賈環聽了，趁著酒興也說鳳姐不好，怎樣苛刻我們，怎麼樣踏我們的頭。Hearing this, Jia Huan, carried along by the wine, also spoke ill of Xifeng, saying how harshly she treated them, how she trampled them underfoot.眾人道：“大凡做個人，原要厚道些。Everyone said, "Generally speaking, a person ought to deal with others generously.看鳳姑娘仗著老太太這樣的利害，如今焦了尾巴梢子了，只剩了一個姐兒，只怕也要現世現報呢。”賈芸想著鳳姐待他不好，又想起巧姐兒見他就哭，也信著嘴兒混說。"Look at Miss Feng — relying on the Old Ancestress's backing to be so fierce and formidable — and now she's burned herself down to the very tip of the tail, with only one daughter left to her; I fear retribution will show itself in this very lifetime." Jia Yun, thinking of how badly Xifeng had treated him, and recalling how little Qiaojie burst into tears whenever she saw him, likewise let his tongue run on carelessly.還是賈薔道：“喝酒罷，說人家做什麼。”那兩個陪酒的道：“這位姑娘多大年紀了？It was Jia Qiang who said, "Let's just drink — why go on about other people's business." The two drinking companions said, "How old is this young lady of yours?長得怎麼樣？”賈薔道：“模樣兒是好的很的。What does she look like?" Jia Qiang said, "Her looks are very fine indeed.年紀也有十三四歲了。”那陪酒的說道：“可惜這樣人生在府里這樣人家，若生在小戶人家，父母兄弟都做了官，還發了財呢。”眾人道：“怎麼樣？”那陪酒的說：“現今有個外藩王爺，最是有情的，要選一個妃子。"She's about thirteen or fourteen years old too." The drinking companion said, "What a pity that someone like her was born into a household such as this mansion — if she had been born into a humble family instead, her parents and brothers would all have become officials, and grown rich to boot!" Everyone said, "How so?" The drinking companion said, "There is at present an outer feudatory prince, the most tender-hearted of men, who wishes to choose a consort.若合了式，父母兄弟都跟了去。"If she suited his taste, her parents and brothers would all go along with her.可不是好事兒嗎？”眾人都不大理會，只有王仁心里略動了一動，仍舊喝酒。"Wouldn't that be a fine thing?" No one paid it much mind, except that something stirred faintly in Wang Ren's heart, though he went on drinking as before.

一日邢大舅王仁都在贾家外书房喝酒，一时高兴，叫了几个陪酒的来唱著喝著劝酒。贾蔷便说：“你们闹的太俗。我要行个令儿。”众人道：“使得。”贾蔷道：“咱们‘月’字流觞罢。我先说起‘月’字，数到那个便是那个喝酒，还要酒面酒底。须得依著令官，不依者罚三大杯。”众人都依了。贾蔷喝了一杯令酒，便说：“飞羽觞而醉月。”顺饮数到贾环。贾蔷说：“酒面要个‘桂’字。”贾环便说道“‘冷露无声湿桂花’。酒底呢？”贾蔷道：“说个‘香’字。”贾环道：“天香云外飘。”大舅说道：“没趣，没趣。你又懂得什么字了，也假斯文起来！这不是取乐，竟是怄人了。咱们都蠲了，倒是搳搳拳，输家喝输家唱，叫做‘苦中苦’。若是不会唱的，说个笑话儿也使得，只要有趣。”众人都道：“使得。”于是乱搳起来。王仁输了，喝了一杯，唱了一个。众人道好，又搳起来了。是个陪酒的输了，唱了一个什么“小姐小姐多丰彩”。以后邢大舅输了，众人要他唱曲儿，他道：“我唱不上来的，我说个笑话儿罢。”贾蔷道：“若说不笑仍要罚的。”邢大舅就喝了杯，便说道：“诸位听著：村庄上有一座元帝庙，旁边有个土地祠。那元帝老爷常叫土地来说闲话儿。一日元帝庙里被了盗，便叫土地去查访。土地禀道：‘这地方没有贼的，必是神将不小心，被外贼偷了东西去。’元帝道：‘胡说，你是土地，失了盗不问你问谁去呢？你倒不去拿贼，反说我的神将不小心吗？’土地禀道：‘虽说是不小心，到底是庙里的风水不好。’元帝道：‘你倒会看风水么？’土地道：‘待小神看看。’那土地向各处瞧了一会，便来回禀道：‘老爷坐的身子背后两扇红门就不谨慎。小神坐的背后是砌的墙，自然东西丢不了。以后老爷的背后亦改了墙就好了。’元帝老爷听来有理，便叫神将派人打墙。众神将叹口气道：‘如今香火一炷也没有，那里有砖灰人工来打墙！’元帝老爷没法，叫众神将作法，却都没有主意。那元帝老爷脚下的龟将军站起来道：‘你们不中用，我有主意。你们将红门拆下来，到了夜里拿我的肚子垫住这门口，难道当不得一堵墙么？’众神将都说道：‘好，又不花钱，又便当结实。’于是龟将军便当这个差使，竟安静了。岂知过了几天，那庙里又丢了东西。众神将叫了土地来说道：‘你说砌了墙就不丢东西，怎么如今有了墙还要丢？’那土地道：‘这墙砌的不结实。’众神将道：‘你瞧去。’土地一看，果然是一堵好墙，怎么还有失事？把手摸了一摸道：‘我打谅是真墙，那里知道是个假墙！’”众人听了大笑起来。贾蔷也忍不住的笑，说道：“傻大舅，你好！我没有骂你，你为什么骂我！快拿杯来罚一大杯。”邢大舅喝了，已有醉意。众人又喝了几杯，都醉起来。邢大舅说他姐姐不好，王仁说他妹妹不好，都说的狠狠毒毒的。贾环听了，趁著酒兴也说凤姐不好，怎样苛刻我们，怎么样踏我们的头。众人道：“大凡做个人，原要厚道些。看凤姑娘仗著老太太这样的利害，如今焦了尾巴梢子了，只剩了一个姐儿，只怕也要现世现报呢。”贾芸想著凤姐待他不好，又想起巧姐儿见他就哭，也信著嘴儿混说。还是贾蔷道：“喝酒罢，说人家做什么。”那两个陪酒的道：“这位姑娘多大年纪了？长得怎么样？”贾蔷道：“模样儿是好的很的。年纪也有十三四岁了。”那陪酒的说道：“可惜这样人生在府里这样人家，若生在小户人家，父母兄弟都做了官，还发了财呢。”众人道：“怎么样？”那陪酒的说：“现今有个外藩王爷，最是有情的，要选一个妃子。若合了式，父母兄弟都跟了去。可不是好事儿吗？”众人都不大理会，只有王仁心里略动了一动，仍旧喝酒。

只見外頭走進賴林兩家的子弟來，說：“爺們好樂呀！”眾人站起來說道：“老大老三怎麼這時候才來？Just then some young men of the Lai and Lin families came in from outside, saying, "You gentlemen are having quite a time of it!" Everyone stood up and said, "Lao Da, Lao San, why have you only come at this hour?叫我們好等！”那兩個人說道：“今早聽見一個謠言，說是咱們家又鬧出事來了，心里著急，赶到里頭打聽去，并不是咱們。”眾人道：“不是咱們就完了，為什麼不就來？”那兩個說道：“雖不是咱們，也有些干系。"You've kept us waiting so long!" The two of them said, "This morning we heard a rumor that trouble had broken out in our household again, and we were worried, so we rushed inside to find out — it turned out not to be us." Everyone said, "If it wasn't us, that's the end of it — why didn't you come straight here then?" The two said, "Although it wasn't us, there is some connection all the same.你們知道是誰，就是賈雨村老爺。"You know who it is — none other than Lord Jia Yucun.我們今兒進去，看見帶著鎖子，說要解到三法司衙門里審問去呢。"When we went in today, we saw him in chains, and heard he is to be sent to the Three Judicial Offices for questioning.我們見他常在咱們家里來往，恐有什麼事，便跟了去打聽。”賈芸道：“到底老大用心，原該打聽打聽。"Seeing that he used to come and go so often at our house, and fearing something might be amiss, we followed along to find out." Jia Yun said, "Lao Da really is thoughtful — you were quite right to go and inquire.你且坐下喝一杯再說。”兩人讓了一回，便坐下，喝著酒道：“這位雨村老爺人也能干，也會鑽營，官也不小了，只是貪財，被人家參了個婪索屬員的幾款。"Sit down first and have a cup before you say more." The two demurred a while, then sat down, and over their wine said, "This Lord Yucun is a capable man, and knows how to maneuver too — his rank isn't small — but he's greedy for money, and someone has impeached him on several counts of extorting his subordinates.如今的萬歲爺是最圣明最仁慈的，獨聽了一個‘貪’字，或因糟蹋了百姓，或因恃勢欺良，是极生氣的，所以旨意便叫拿問。"The present Emperor is the wisest and most benevolent of sovereigns — the very word 'corrupt' makes him furious, whether it's a matter of trampling the common people or leaning on power to bully the good, and so the decree went out to have him seized and questioned.若是問出來了，只怕擱不住。"If it's proven true under questioning, I'm afraid he won't be able to hold on.若是沒有的事，那參的人也不便。"If it turns out there was no such thing, then it will go awkwardly for the one who impeached him.如今真真是好時候，只要有造化做個官兒就好。”眾人道：“你的哥哥就是有造化的，現做知縣還不好么。”賴家的說道：“我哥哥雖是做了知縣，他的行為只怕也保不住怎麼樣呢。”眾人道：“手也長么？”賴家的點點頭兒，便舉起杯來喝酒。"These are truly fine times — all one needs is the good fortune to land an official post, and all goes well." Everyone said, "Your elder brother is a man of just such good fortune — isn't it splendid that he's now a county magistrate?" The Lai family man said, "Although my brother has become a magistrate, I'm afraid his conduct may not bear close looking into either." Everyone said, "Light-fingered too, is he?" The Lai family man merely nodded, and raised his cup to drink.眾人又道：“里頭還聽見什麼新聞？”兩人道：“別的事沒有，只聽見海疆的賊寇拿住了好些，也解到法司衙門里審問。Everyone then asked, "Did you hear any other news inside?" The two said, "Nothing else, except that we heard a good many pirates from the coastal frontier had been captured, and they too were sent to the judicial offices for questioning.還審出好些賊寇，也有藏在城里的，打聽消息，抽空兒就劫搶人家，如今知道朝里那些老爺們都是能文能武，出力報效，所到之處早就消滅了。”眾人道：“你聽見有在城里的，不知審出咱們家失盜了一案來沒有？”兩人道：“倒沒有聽見。"And under questioning quite a few more bandits were turned up, some of them hiding right in the city, gathering word, and seizing every chance to rob households. Now that it's known the lords at court are all capable in letters and arms alike, and exert themselves loyally in the cause, wherever they've gone the bandits have already been wiped out." Everyone said, "You heard some were hiding in the city — did you happen to hear whether they turned up anything in the matter of the robbery at our own house?" The two said, "We heard nothing of that.恍惚有人說是有個內地里的人，城里犯了事，搶了一個女人下海去了。"It seems, vaguely, someone said there was a man from inland who ran afoul of the law in the city, seized a woman, and took her off to sea.那女人不依，被這賊寇殺了。"The woman would not submit, and this bandit killed her.那賊寇正要跳出關去，被官兵拿住了，就在拿獲的地方正了法了。”眾人道：“咱們櫳翠庵的什麼妙玉不是叫人搶去，不要就是他罷？”賈環道：“必是他！”眾人道：“你怎麼知道？”賈環道：“妙玉這個東西是最討人嫌的。"Just as the bandit was about to leap past the frontier pass and escape, he was seized by government troops, and was executed on the very spot where he was caught." Everyone said, "That Miaoyu of ours from Longcui Convent — wasn't she the one carried off? Could it not be her?" Jia Huan said, "It must be her!" Everyone said, "How do you know?" Jia Huan said, "That creature Miaoyu was always the most detestable.他一日家捏酸，見了寶玉就眉開眼笑了。"Day after day she put on her air of sour piety, yet the moment she laid eyes on Baoyu her brows would lift and her eyes light up with smiles.我若見了他，他從不拿正眼瞧我一瞧。"Whenever she saw me, though, she never once looked me straight in the eye.真要是他，我才趁願呢！”眾人道：“搶的人也不少，那里就是他。”賈芸道：“有點信兒。"If it really is her, then I'll be well satisfied indeed!" Everyone said, "Plenty of people get carried off — it needn't be her." Jia Yun said, "There's some basis to it.前日有個人說，他庵里的道婆做夢，說看見是妙玉叫人殺了。”眾人笑道：“夢話算不得。”邢大舅道：“管他夢不夢，咱們快吃飯罷。"The other day someone said the old nun who tends the convent had a dream, in which she saw that it was Miaoyu who had been killed by the men." Everyone laughed and said, "Dream-talk counts for nothing." Uncle Xing said, "Never mind whether it's a dream or not — let's hurry up and eat.今夜做個大輸贏。”眾人願意，便吃畢了飯，大賭起來。"Tonight let's have ourselves a great round of winning and losing." Everyone was willing, and once they had finished eating, they fell to gambling in earnest.

只见外头走进赖林两家的子弟来，说：“爷们好乐呀！”众人站起来说道：“老大老三怎么这时候才来？叫我们好等！”那两个人说道：“今早听见一个谣言，说是咱们家又闹出事来了，心里著急，赶到里头打听去，并不是咱们。”众人道：“不是咱们就完了，为什么不就来？”那两个说道：“虽不是咱们，也有些干系。你们知道是谁，就是贾雨村老爷。我们今儿进去，看见带著锁子，说要解到三法司衙门里审问去呢。我们见他常在咱们家里来往，恐有什么事，便跟了去打听。”贾芸道：“到底老大用心，原该打听打听。你且坐下喝一杯再说。”两人让了一回，便坐下，喝著酒道：“这位雨村老爷人也能干，也会钻营，官也不小了，只是贪财，被人家参了个婪索属员的几款。如今的万岁爷是最圣明最仁慈的，独听了一个‘贪’字，或因糟蹋了百姓，或因恃势欺良，是极生气的，所以旨意便叫拿问。若是问出来了，只怕搁不住。若是没有的事，那参的人也不便。如今真真是好时候，只要有造化做个官儿就好。”众人道：“你的哥哥就是有造化的，现做知县还不好么。”赖家的说道：“我哥哥虽是做了知县，他的行为只怕也保不住怎么样呢。”众人道：“手也长么？”赖家的点点头儿，便举起杯来喝酒。众人又道：“里头还听见什么新闻？”两人道：“别的事没有，只听见海疆的贼寇拿住了好些，也解到法司衙门里审问。还审出好些贼寇，也有藏在城里的，打听消息，抽空儿就劫抢人家，如今知道朝里那些老爷们都是能文能武，出力报效，所到之处早就消灭了。”众人道：“你听见有在城里的，不知审出咱们家失盗了一案来没有？”两人道：“倒没有听见。恍惚有人说是有个内地里的人，城里犯了事，抢了一个女人下海去了。那女人不依，被这贼寇杀了。那贼寇正要跳出关去，被官兵拿住了，就在拿获的地方正了法了。”众人道：“咱们栊翠庵的什么妙玉不是叫人抢去，不要就是他罢？”贾环道：“必是他！”众人道：“你怎么知道？”贾环道：“妙玉这个东西是最讨人嫌的。他一日家捏酸，见了宝玉就眉开眼笑了。我若见了他，他从不拿正眼瞧我一瞧。真要是他，我才趁愿呢！”众人道：“抢的人也不少，那里就是他。”贾芸道：“有点信儿。前日有个人说，他庵里的道婆做梦，说看见是妙玉叫人杀了。”众人笑道：“梦话算不得。”邢大舅道：“管他梦不梦，咱们快吃饭罢。今夜做个大输赢。”众人愿意，便吃毕了饭，大赌起来。

賭到三更多天，只聽見里頭亂嚷，說是四姑娘合珍大奶奶拌嘴，把頭髮都絞掉了，赶到邢夫人王夫人那里去磕了頭，說是要求容他做尼姑呢，送他一個地方，若不容他他就死在眼前。They gambled on past the third watch of the night, when suddenly they heard an uproar from within — it was said that Fourth Miss had quarreled with the young mistress of the Zhen branch, and had cut off all her hair, and had rushed to kowtow before Lady Xing and Lady Wang, saying she wished to be allowed to become a nun, and asking to be given some place of her own — and that if they would not permit it, she would die right there before their eyes.那邢王兩位太太沒主意，叫請薔大爺芸二爺進去。The two ladies, Xing and Wang, were at their wits' end, and sent word asking Master Qiang and Second Master Yun to come in.賈芸聽了，便知是那回看家的時候起的念頭，想來是勸不過來的了，便合賈薔商議道：“太太叫我們進去，我們是做不得主的。Hearing this, Jia Yun at once knew this was the notion she had taken up at the time she was keeping watch over the house, and thought there would be no talking her out of it now. So he took counsel with Jia Qiang, saying, "The ladies have sent for us, but this isn't a matter we can decide.況且也不好做主，只好勸去。"Besides, it isn't fitting for us to take charge of it either — all we can do is go and try persuasion.若勸不住，只好由他們罷。"If persuasion fails, we'll just have to let them do as they please.咱們商量了寫封書給璉二叔，便卸了我們的干系了。”兩人商量定了主意，進去見了邢王兩位太太，便假意的勸了一回。"Let's agree between us to write a letter to Second Uncle Lian, and that will clear us of the responsibility." The two settled on this plan, went in to see the two ladies, and made a show of persuading her for a while.無奈惜春立意必要出家，就不放他出去，只求一兩間淨屋子給他誦經拜佛。But there was no help for it — Xichun was absolutely set on leaving the family to become a nun. Since they could not simply let her go off elsewhere, she asked only for one or two clean rooms where she might chant sutras and worship the Buddha.尤氏見他兩個不肯作主，又怕惜春尋死，自己便硬做主張，說是：“這個不是索性我耽了罷。Seeing that the two of them would not take it upon themselves to decide, and fearing Xichun might try to take her own life, Youshi herself resolved to take charge of the matter, and said, "In that case, I may as well simply bear the blame myself.說我做嫂子的容不下小姑子，逼他出了家了就完了。"Let it be said that I, as her sister-in-law, could not tolerate my husband's younger sister, and drove her to leave the family — and there's an end to it.若說到外頭去呢，斷斷使不得。"As for her going off to some place outside the family, that will absolutely not do.若在家里呢，太太們都在這里，算我的主意罷。"But if it's to be within the household, with the ladies all here present, then let it be counted as my own decision.叫薔哥兒寫封書子給你珍大爺璉二叔就是了。”賈薔等答應了。"Just have young Master Qiang write a letter to your Elder Master Zhen and Second Uncle Lian, and that will settle it." Jia Qiang and the others assented.不知邢王二夫人依與不依，下回分解。Whether the two ladies Xing and Wang would consent to it or not is not yet known; that will be told in the chapter to follow.

赌到三更多天，只听见里头乱嚷，说是四姑娘合珍大奶奶拌嘴，把头发都绞掉了，赶到邢夫人王夫人那里去磕了头，说是要求容他做尼姑呢，送他一个地方，若不容他他就死在眼前。那邢王两位太太没主意，叫请蔷大爷芸二爷进去。贾芸听了，便知是那回看家的时候起的念头，想来是劝不过来的了，便合贾蔷商议道：“太太叫我们进去，我们是做不得主的。况且也不好做主，只好劝去。若劝不住，只好由他们罢。咱们商量了写封书给琏二叔，便卸了我们的干系了。”两人商量定了主意，进去见了邢王两位太太，便假意的劝了一回。无奈惜春立意必要出家，就不放他出去，只求一两间净屋子给他诵经拜佛。尤氏见他两个不肯作主，又怕惜春寻死，自己便硬做主张，说是：“这个不是索性我耽了罢。说我做嫂子的容不下小姑子，逼他出了家了就完了。若说到外头去呢，断断使不得。若在家里呢，太太们都在这里，算我的主意罢。叫蔷哥儿写封书子给你珍大爷琏二叔就是了。”贾蔷等答应了。不知邢王二夫人依与不依，下回分解。