第五十四回　史太君破陳腐舊套　王熙鳳效戲彩斑衣 The Lady Dowager Dismisses Hackneyed Tales; Wang Xifeng Plays the Merry Entertainer

卻說賈珍賈璉暗暗預備下大簸籮的錢，聽見賈母說“賞”，他們也忙命小廝們快撒錢。Now, Jia Zhen and Jia Lian had secretly prepared large baskets of cash, and when they heard Grandmother Jia call out "Reward them!", they too hastily ordered the page boys to scatter money.只聽滿臺錢響，賈母大悅。All that could be heard was the jingle of coins clattering across the stage, and Grandmother Jia was delighted.

却说贾珍贾琏暗暗预备下大簸箩的钱，听见贾母说“赏”，他们也忙命小厮们快撒钱。只听满台钱响，贾母大悦。

二人遂起身，小廝們忙將一把新暖銀壺捧在賈璉手內，隨了賈珍趨至里面。The two of them then rose, and the page boys hastily placed a new warmed silver wine pot into Jia Lian's hands; he followed Jia Zhen hurrying inside.賈珍先至李嬸席上，躬身取下杯來，回身，賈璉忙斟了一盞，然後便至薛姨媽席上，也斟了。Jia Zhen went first to Aunt Li's table, bowed and took up her cup, then turned around, and Jia Lian quickly filled it; after that they went to Aunt Xue's table and filled hers as well.二人忙起身笑說：“二位爺請坐著罷了，何必多禮。”于是除邢王二夫人，滿席都離了席，俱垂手旁侍。The two ladies hastily rose and said with a smile, "Please, gentlemen, do sit down again — there's no need for such ceremony." At this, everyone at the tables except Lady Xing and Lady Wang left their seats and stood by with arms lowered in attendance.賈珍等至賈母榻前，因榻矮，二人便屈膝跪了。When Jia Zhen and the others reached the front of Grandmother Jia's couch, since the couch was low, the two of them knelt down on one knee.賈珍在先捧杯，賈璉在後捧壺。Jia Zhen held the cup in front, and Jia Lian held the wine pot behind.雖止二人奉酒，那賈環弟兄等，卻也是排班按序，一溜隨著他二人進來，見他二人跪下，也都一溜跪下。Although only the two of them were serving the wine, Jia Huan and the other younger brothers had also lined up in proper order and filed in behind them; seeing the two kneel, they all knelt down in a row as well.寶玉也忙跪下了。Baoyu hastily knelt down too.史湘雲悄推他笑道：“你這會又幫著跪下作什麼？Shi Xiangyun quietly nudged him and said with a laugh, "What are you doing kneeling along with them now?有這樣，你也去斟一巡酒豈不好？”寶玉悄笑道：“再等一會子再斟去。”說著，等他二人斟完起來，方起來。If you're going to do that, wouldn't it be better to go pour a round of wine yourself?" Baoyu whispered back with a smile, "I'll go pour later, in a moment." So saying, he waited until the two of them had finished pouring and risen before he himself got up.又與邢夫人王夫人斟過來。Then they went on to pour wine for Lady Xing and Lady Wang.賈珍笑道：“妹妹們怎麼樣呢？”賈母等都說：“你們去罷，他們倒便宜些。”說了，賈珍等方退出。Jia Zhen said with a smile, "And what about the young ladies?" Grandmother Jia and the others all said, "Off you go — let them off easy this time." Only then did Jia Zhen and the rest withdraw.

二人遂起身，小厮们忙将一把新暖银壶捧在贾琏手内，随了贾珍趋至里面。贾珍先至李婶席上，躬身取下杯来，回身，贾琏忙斟了一盏，然后便至薛姨妈席上，也斟了。二人忙起身笑说：“二位爷请坐著罢了，何必多礼。”于是除邢王二夫人，满席都离了席，俱垂手旁侍。贾珍等至贾母榻前，因榻矮，二人便屈膝跪了。贾珍在先捧杯，贾琏在后捧壶。虽止二人奉酒，那贾环弟兄等，却也是排班按序，一溜随著他二人进来，见他二人跪下，也都一溜跪下。宝玉也忙跪下了。史湘云悄推他笑道：“你这会又帮著跪下作什么？有这样，你也去斟一巡酒岂不好？”宝玉悄笑道：“再等一会子再斟去。”说著，等他二人斟完起来，方起来。又与邢夫人王夫人斟过来。贾珍笑道：“妹妹们怎么样呢？”贾母等都说：“你们去罢，他们倒便宜些。”说了，贾珍等方退出。

當下天未二鼓，戲演的是《八義》中《觀燈》八出。At that time it was not yet the second watch, and the play being performed was the "Watching the Lanterns" scene, eight acts from The Eight Righteous Ones.正在熱鬧之際，寶玉因下席往外走。Just as things were at their liveliest, Baoyu left his seat and went outside.賈母因說：“你往那里去！Grandmother Jia called out, "Where are you off to!外頭爆竹利害，仔細天上掉下火紙來燒了。”寶玉回說：“不往遠去，只出去就來。”賈母命婆子們好生跟著。The firecrackers outside are fierce — mind that burning paper doesn't fall from the sky and scorch you." Baoyu answered, "I won't go far, just out and right back." Grandmother Jia ordered the old women to follow him closely.于是寶玉出來，只有麝月秋紋并幾個小丫頭隨著。So Baoyu went out, with only Sheyue, Qiuwen, and a few little maids accompanying him.賈母因說：“襲人怎麼不見？Grandmother Jia then said, "Why don't I see Xiren?他如今也有些拿大了，單支使小女孩子出來。”王夫人忙起身笑回道：“他媽前日沒了，因有熱孝，不便前頭來。”賈母聽了點頭，又笑道：“跟主子卻講不起這孝與不孝。She's putting on airs these days, sending only the little girls out to serve." Lady Wang hastily rose and answered with a smile, "Her mother passed away the other day, and since she's in fresh mourning, it isn't proper for her to come to the front." Grandmother Jia nodded at this and said with a smile, "When one is in service to one's master, there's no talk of mourning or not mourning.若是他還跟我，難道這會子也不在這里不成？If she were still waiting on me, do you mean to say she wouldn't be here right now?皆因我們太寬了，有人使，不查這些，竟成了例了。”鳳姐兒忙過來笑回道：“今兒晚上他便沒孝，那園子里也須得他看著，燈燭花炮最是耽險的。It's only because we've been too lenient — as long as there's someone else to send, we don't look into such things, and it's become the rule." Xifeng hastily came over and answered with a smile, "Even if she weren't in mourning tonight, someone still needs to keep watch over the garden — lamps, candles, and fireworks are the most dangerous things.這里一唱戲，園子里的人誰不偷來瞧瞧。With the opera going on here, who among the people in the garden wouldn't slip away to come and watch?他還細心，各處照看照看。She's careful, and can keep an eye on everything there.況且這一散後寶兄弟回去睡覺，各色都是齊全的。Besides, once things break up here and Cousin Bao goes back to sleep, everything will be ready and in order.若他再來了，眾人又不經心，散了回去，舖蓋也是冷的，茶水也不齊備，各色都不便宜，所以我叫他不用來，只看屋子。If she came here too, the others would grow careless, and when everyone went back after things broke up, the bedding would be cold and the tea and water not ready — nothing would be convenient. That's why I told her not to come, but just to mind the rooms.散了又齊備，我們這里也不耽心，又可以全他的禮，豈不三處有益。That way, when we break up everything will be ready, we won't need to worry on this end, and she can also observe proper mourning — isn't that good on all three counts?老祖宗要叫他，我叫他來就是了。”賈母聽了這話，忙說：“你這話很是，比我想的周到，快別叫他了。If Your Old Ancestress wants her here, I'll simply send for her." Hearing this, Grandmother Jia said hastily, "What you say is quite right, more thoughtful than what I had in mind — don't send for her, then.但只他媽幾時沒了，我怎麼不知道。”鳳姐笑道：“前兒襲人去親自回老太太的，怎麼倒忘了。”賈母想了一想笑說：“想起來了。But when did her mother die — how is it I didn't know?" Xifeng said with a smile, "Xiren went and reported it to you herself the other day, in person — how could you have forgotten?" Grandmother Jia thought for a moment and said with a smile, "Ah, now I remember.我的記性竟平常了。”眾人都笑說：“老太太那里記得這些事。”賈母因又歎道：“我想著，他從小兒伏侍了我一場，又伏侍了雲兒一場，末後給了一個魔王寶玉，虧他魔了這幾年。My memory really has grown ordinary." Everyone said with a laugh, "How could Old Ancestress be expected to remember such things." Grandmother Jia then sighed and said, "I was just thinking — she served me for a good while when she was little, then served Yun-er for a while, and in the end she was given to that little devil Baoyu — it's a wonder she's put up with his mischief all these years.他又不是咱們家的根生土長的奴才，沒受過咱們什麼大恩典。She isn't even a bondservant born and raised in our household, and she hasn't received any great favor from us.他媽沒了，我想著要給他幾兩銀子發送，也就忘了。”鳳姐兒道：“前兒太太賞了他四十兩銀子，也就是了。”賈母聽說，點頭道：“這還罷了。Now that her mother has died, I meant to give her some silver for the funeral, but I forgot all about it." Xifeng said, "Her Ladyship already gave her forty taels of silver the other day, so that should cover it." Grandmother Jia nodded on hearing this and said, "Well, that will do, then.正好鴛鴦的娘前兒也死了，我想他老子娘都在南邊，我也沒叫他家去走走守孝，如今叫他兩個一處作伴兒去。”又命婆子將些果子菜饌點心之類與他兩個吃去。As it happens, Yuanyang's mother died the other day too — I thought about it, since her parents are both down south and I never sent her home to observe mourning there — so now let the two of them keep each other company." She then told the old women to take some fruit, dishes, and pastries for the two of them to eat.琥珀笑說：“還等這會子呢，他早就去了。”說著，大家又吃酒看戲。Hupo said with a smile, "No need to wait till now — she went long ago." With that, everyone went back to drinking wine and watching the opera.

当下天未二鼓，戏演的是《八义》中《观灯》八出。正在热闹之际，宝玉因下席往外走。贾母因说：“你往那里去！外头爆竹利害，仔细天上掉下火纸来烧了。”宝玉回说：“不往远去，只出去就来。”贾母命婆子们好生跟著。于是宝玉出来，只有麝月秋纹并几个小丫头随著。贾母因说：“袭人怎么不见？他如今也有些拿大了，单支使小女孩子出来。”王夫人忙起身笑回道：“他妈前日没了，因有热孝，不便前头来。”贾母听了点头，又笑道：“跟主子却讲不起这孝与不孝。若是他还跟我，难道这会子也不在这里不成？皆因我们太宽了，有人使，不查这些，竟成了例了。”凤姐儿忙过来笑回道：“今儿晚上他便没孝，那园子里也须得他看著，灯烛花炮最是耽险的。这里一唱戏，园子里的人谁不偷来瞧瞧。他还细心，各处照看照看。况且这一散后宝兄弟回去睡觉，各色都是齐全的。若他再来了，众人又不经心，散了回去，铺盖也是冷的，茶水也不齐备，各色都不便宜，所以我叫他不用来，只看屋子。散了又齐备，我们这里也不耽心，又可以全他的礼，岂不三处有益。老祖宗要叫他，我叫他来就是了。”贾母听了这话，忙说：“你这话很是，比我想的周到，快别叫他了。但只他妈几时没了，我怎么不知道。”凤姐笑道：“前儿袭人去亲自回老太太的，怎么倒忘了。”贾母想了一想笑说：“想起来了。我的记性竟平常了。”众人都笑说：“老太太那里记得这些事。”贾母因又叹道：“我想著，他从小儿伏侍了我一场，又伏侍了云儿一场，末后给了一个魔王宝玉，亏他魔了这几年。他又不是咱们家的根生土长的奴才，没受过咱们什么大恩典。他妈没了，我想著要给他几两银子发送，也就忘了。”凤姐儿道：“前儿太太赏了他四十两银子，也就是了。”贾母听说，点头道：“这还罢了。正好鸳鸯的娘前儿也死了，我想他老子娘都在南边，我也没叫他家去走走守孝，如今叫他两个一处作伴儿去。”又命婆子将些果子菜馔点心之类与他两个吃去。琥珀笑说：“还等这会子呢，他早就去了。”说著，大家又吃酒看戏。

且說寶玉一徑來至園中，眾婆子見他回房，便不跟去，只坐在園門里茶房里烤火，和管茶的女人偷空飲酒鬥牌。Now, Baoyu went straight into the garden, and seeing that he was heading back to his rooms, the old women did not follow but sat warming themselves by the fire in the tea room just inside the garden gate, stealing a moment to drink wine and play cards with the woman in charge of the tea there.寶玉至院中，雖是燈光燦爛，卻無人聲。When Baoyu reached the courtyard, though the lamps were blazing bright, there was not a sound of anyone about.麝月道：“他們都睡了不成？Sheyue said, "Could they all have gone to sleep?咱們悄悄的進去唬他們一跳。”于是大家躡足潛蹤的進了鏡壁一看，只見襲人和一人二人對面都歪在地炕上，那一頭有兩三個老嬤嬤打盹。Let's sneak in quietly and give them a fright." So they crept in on tiptoe past the mirrored screen and looked, and saw Xiren and one other person lying face to face on the heated brick bed, while at the far end two or three old nannies were dozing.寶玉只當他兩個睡著了，纔要進去，忽聽鴛鴦歎了一聲，說道：“可知天下事難定。Baoyu, assuming the two of them were asleep, was just about to go in when he suddenly heard Yuanyang sigh and say, "It just goes to show, things in this world are hard to foresee.論理你單身在這里，父母在外頭，每年他們東去西來，沒個定准，想來你是不能送終的了，偏生今年就死在這里，你倒出去送了終。”襲人道：“正是。By rights, you're here alone in service while your parents are out there, moving back and forth from year to year with no fixed place — one would think you'd never be able to see them to their end. And yet this very year your mother happened to die right nearby, so you were able to go and see her to her end after all." Xiren said, "That's just it.我也想不到能夠看父母回首。I never expected I'd be able to see my parents through to the end either.太太又賞了四十兩銀子，這倒也算養我一場，我也不敢妄想了。”寶玉聽了，忙轉身悄向麝月等道：“誰知他也來了。And Her Ladyship even gave forty taels of silver besides — that counts as having raised me for something, after all, and I dare not ask for more than that." Hearing this, Baoyu quickly turned and whispered to Sheyue and the others, "Who would have thought she'd have come too.我這一進去，他又賭氣走了，不如咱們回去罷，讓他兩個清清靜靜的說一回。If I go in now, she'll storm off in a huff again — better we go back and let the two of them talk in peace for a while.襲人正一個悶著，他幸而來的好。”說著，仍悄悄的出來。Xiren has been sitting there moping all alone — it's a good thing she came." So saying, they quietly slipped back out.

且说宝玉一径来至园中，众婆子见他回房，便不跟去，只坐在园门里茶房里烤火，和管茶的女人偷空饮酒斗牌。宝玉至院中，虽是灯光灿烂，却无人声。麝月道：“他们都睡了不成？咱们悄悄的进去唬他们一跳。”于是大家蹑足潜踪的进了镜壁一看，只见袭人和一人二人对面都歪在地炕上，那一头有两三个老嬷嬷打盹。宝玉只当他两个睡著了，才要进去，忽听鸳鸯叹了一声，说道：“可知天下事难定。论理你单身在这里，父母在外头，每年他们东去西来，没个定准，想来你是不能送终的了，偏生今年就死在这里，你倒出去送了终。”袭人道：“正是。我也想不到能够看父母回首。太太又赏了四十两银子，这倒也算养我一场，我也不敢妄想了。”宝玉听了，忙转身悄向麝月等道：“谁知他也来了。我这一进去，他又赌气走了，不如咱们回去罢，让他两个清清静静的说一回。袭人正一个闷著，他幸而来的好。”说著，仍悄悄的出来。

寶玉便走過山石之後去站著撩衣，麝月秋紋皆站住背過臉去，口內笑說：“蹲下再解小衣，仔細風吹了肚子。”後面兩個小丫頭子知是小解，忙先出去茶房預備去了。Baoyu then walked behind a rockery and stood there lifting his robe; Sheyue and Qiuwen both stopped and turned their faces away, saying with a laugh, "Squat down before you undo your under-clothes — mind the wind doesn't chill your belly." The two little maids behind, knowing he was only relieving himself, hurried on ahead to the tea room to get things ready.這里寶玉剛轉過來，只見兩個媳婦子迎面來了，問是誰，秋紋道：“寶玉在這里，你大呼小叫，仔細唬著罷。”那媳婦們忙笑道：“我們不知道，大節下來惹禍了。Just as Baoyu turned back this way, two young married women came walking toward them; when asked who was there, Qiuwen said, "It's Master Bao here — don't go shouting so loud, mind you frighten him." The women hastily said with a smile, "We didn't know — on a festive night like this, we've gone and caused trouble.姑娘們可連日辛苦了。”說著，已到了跟前。You young ladies must be tired out from all these days of work." By now they had come right up to them.麝月等問：“手里拿的是什麼？”媳婦們道：“是老太太賞金，花二位姑娘吃的。”秋紋笑道：“外頭唱的是《八義》，沒唱《混元盒》，那里又跑出’金花娘娘’來了。”寶玉笑命：“揭起來我瞧瞧。”秋紋麝月忙上去將兩個盒子揭開。Sheyue and the others asked, "What is that you're carrying?" The women said, "These are gifts from Grandmother Jia for the two young ladies Jin and Hua to eat." Qiuwen said with a laugh, "They're performing The Eight Righteous Ones out there, not The Chaos Box — wherever has a 'Lady Jinhua' sprung up from now?" Baoyu said with a laugh, "Lift the lids, let me have a look." Qiuwen and Sheyue hastily went up and opened the two boxes.兩個媳婦忙蹲下身子，寶玉看了兩盒內都是席上所有的上等果品菜饌，點了一點頭，邁步就走。The two women hastily crouched down; Baoyu looked and saw that both boxes held the finest fruits and dishes from the feast, nodded once, and walked on.麝月二人忙胡亂擲了盒蓋，跟上來。Sheyue and the other quickly tossed the lids back on anyhow and hurried after him.寶玉笑道：“這兩個女人倒和氣，會說話，他們天天乏了，倒說你們連日辛苦，倒不是那矜功自伐的。”麝月道：“這好的也很好，那不知禮的也太不知禮。”寶玉笑道：“你們是明白人，耽待他們是粗笨可怜的人就完了。”一面說，一面來至園門。Baoyu said with a smile, "Those two women were quite pleasant and knew how to speak — worn out themselves every day, yet they said it was we who'd been working hard these past days — not the sort to boast of their own effort." Sheyue said, "The good ones are truly good, but the ones who don't know their manners are far too rude." Baoyu said with a smile, "You're sensible people — just make allowances for them as poor, coarse creatures and let it go." Talking all the while, they came to the garden gate.那幾個婆子雖吃酒鬥牌，卻不住出來打探，見寶玉來了，也都跟上了。The old women, though drinking and playing cards, had kept coming out now and again to look for him; seeing Baoyu approach, they all fell in behind as well.來至花廳後廊上，只見那兩個小丫頭一個捧著小沐盆，一個搭著手巾，又拿著漚子壺在那里久等。When they reached the back gallery of the reception hall, they found the two little maids already waiting there — one holding a small washbasin, the other with a towel over her arm, and also holding a pot of hand lotion.秋紋先忙伸手向盆內試了一試，說道：“你越大越粗心了，那里弄的這冷水。”小丫頭笑道：“姑娘瞧瞧這個天，我怕水冷，巴巴的倒的是滾水，這還冷了。”正說著，可巧見一個老婆子提著一壺滾水走來。Qiuwen hastily dipped her hand into the basin to test it and said, "The older you get, the more careless you are — where did you get this cold water?" The little maid said with a laugh, "Just look at the weather, Miss — I was afraid the water would be cold, so I went out of my way to pour boiling water, and it's still gone cold." Just as she spoke, an old woman happened to come by carrying a pot of boiling water.小丫頭便說：“好奶奶，過來給我倒上些。”那婆子道：“哥哥兒，這是老太太泡茶的，勸你走了舀去罷，那里就走大了腳。”秋紋道：“憑你是誰的，你不給？The little maid said at once, "Dear Auntie, come pour me some." The old woman said, "Now, my dear, this is for Grandmother Jia's tea — you'd best go fetch your own elsewhere, it won't wear your feet out to walk a little." Qiuwen said, "No matter whose it is, you won't give us any?我管把老太太茶吊子倒了洗手。”那婆子回頭見是秋紋，忙提起壺來就倒。I don't care — I'll just empty out Grandmother Jia's own tea kettle to wash my hands with, then." The old woman turned and saw it was Qiuwen, and hastily lifted the pot and poured.秋紋道：“夠了。Qiuwen said, "That's enough.你這麼大年紀也沒個見識，誰不知是老太太的水！A woman your age with so little sense — who doesn't know this is Grandmother Jia's water!要不著的人就敢要了。”婆子笑道：“我眼花了，沒認出這姑娘來。”寶玉洗了手，那小丫頭子拿小壺倒了些漚子在他手內，寶玉漚了。Only someone with no business asking for it would dare ask." The old woman said with a laugh, "My eyes are so dim, I didn't recognize you, Miss." Baoyu washed his hands, and the little maid poured some hand lotion from a small pot into his palms, and he rubbed it in.秋紋麝月也趁熱水洗了一回，漚了，跟進寶玉來。Qiuwen and Sheyue also took the chance to wash with the hot water and rub in some lotion, then followed Baoyu back in.

宝玉便走过山石之后去站著撩衣，麝月秋纹皆站住背过脸去，口内笑说：“蹲下再解小衣，仔细风吹了肚子。”后面两个小丫头子知是小解，忙先出去茶房预备去了。这里宝玉刚转过来，只见两个媳妇子迎面来了，问是谁，秋纹道：“宝玉在这里，你大呼小叫，仔细唬著罢。”那媳妇们忙笑道：“我们不知道，大节下来惹祸了。姑娘们可连日辛苦了。”说著，已到了跟前。麝月等问：“手里拿的是什么？”媳妇们道：“是老太太赏金，花二位姑娘吃的。”秋纹笑道：“外头唱的是《八义》，没唱《混元盒》，那里又跑出’金花娘娘’来了。”宝玉笑命：“揭起来我瞧瞧。”秋纹麝月忙上去将两个盒子揭开。两个媳妇忙蹲下身子，宝玉看了两盒内都是席上所有的上等果品菜馔，点了一点头，迈步就走。麝月二人忙胡乱掷了盒盖，跟上来。宝玉笑道：“这两个女人倒和气，会说话，他们天天乏了，倒说你们连日辛苦，倒不是那矜功自伐的。”麝月道：“这好的也很好，那不知礼的也太不知礼。”宝玉笑道：“你们是明白人，耽待他们是粗笨可怜的人就完了。”一面说，一面来至园门。那几个婆子虽吃酒斗牌，却不住出来打探，见宝玉来了，也都跟上了。来至花厅后廊上，只见那两个小丫头一个捧著小沐盆，一个搭著手巾，又拿著沤子壶在那里久等。秋纹先忙伸手向盆内试了一试，说道：“你越大越粗心了，那里弄的这冷水。”小丫头笑道：“姑娘瞧瞧这个天，我怕水冷，巴巴的倒的是滚水，这还冷了。”正说著，可巧见一个老婆子提著一壶滚水走来。小丫头便说：“好奶奶，过来给我倒上些。”那婆子道：“哥哥儿，这是老太太泡茶的，劝你走了舀去罢，那里就走大了脚。”秋纹道：“凭你是谁的，你不给？我管把老太太茶吊子倒了洗手。”那婆子回头见是秋纹，忙提起壶来就倒。秋纹道：“够了。你这么大年纪也没个见识，谁不知是老太太的水！要不著的人就敢要了。”婆子笑道：“我眼花了，没认出这姑娘来。”宝玉洗了手，那小丫头子拿小壶倒了些沤子在他手内，宝玉沤了。秋纹麝月也趁热水洗了一回，沤了，跟进宝玉来。

寶玉便要了一壺暖酒，也從李嬸薛姨媽斟起，二人也讓坐。Baoyu then asked for a pot of warmed wine and began pouring, starting with Aunt Li and Aunt Xue, and the two of them likewise urged him to sit.賈母便說：“他小，讓他斟去，大家倒要乾過這杯。”說著，便自己乾了。Grandmother Jia said, "He's young — let him pour, and everyone should drain this cup dry." So saying, she drained her own.邢王二夫人也忙乾了，讓他二人。Lady Xing and Lady Wang also hastily drained theirs and urged the two guests to do likewise.薛李也只得乾了。Aunt Xue and Aunt Li had no choice but to drain their cups too.賈母又命寶玉道：“連你姐姐妹妹一齊斟上，不許亂斟，都要叫他乾了。”寶玉聽說，答應著，一一按次斟了。Grandmother Jia then instructed Baoyu, "Pour for your sisters and cousins as well, all together — no pouring at random, and make sure every one of them drains it." Baoyu, hearing this, assented and poured for each of them in turn, in order.至黛玉前，偏他不飲，拿起杯來，放在寶玉唇上邊，寶玉一氣飲乾。When he came to Daiyu, she alone refused to drink; instead she picked up the cup and held it to Baoyu's lips, and he drained it in one gulp.黛玉笑說：“多謝。”寶玉替他斟上一杯。Daiyu said with a smile, "Much obliged." Baoyu then poured her a fresh cup.鳳姐兒便笑道：“寶玉，別喝冷酒，仔細手顫，明兒寫不得字，拉不得弓。”寶玉忙道：“沒有吃冷酒。”鳳姐兒笑道：“我知道沒有，不過白囑咐你。”然後寶玉將里面斟完，只除賈蓉之妻是丫頭們斟的。Xifeng said with a smile, "Baoyu, don't drink cold wine — mind your hands don't start shaking, or tomorrow you won't be able to write or draw a bow." Baoyu said hastily, "I haven't had any cold wine." Xifeng said with a smile, "I know you haven't — I'm just warning you all the same." After that Baoyu finished pouring for everyone inside, except for Jia Rong's wife, whom the maids poured for instead.复出至廊上，又與賈珍等斟了。He then went back out to the gallery and poured for Jia Zhen and the others as well.坐了一回，方進來仍歸舊坐。After sitting there a while, he came back in and returned to his old seat.

宝玉便要了一壶暖酒，也从李婶薛姨妈斟起，二人也让坐。贾母便说：“他小，让他斟去，大家倒要干过这杯。”说著，便自己干了。邢王二夫人也忙干了，让他二人。薛李也只得干了。贾母又命宝玉道：“连你姐姐妹妹一齐斟上，不许乱斟，都要叫他干了。”宝玉听说，答应著，一一按次斟了。至黛玉前，偏他不饮，拿起杯来，放在宝玉唇上边，宝玉一气饮干。黛玉笑说：“多谢。”宝玉替他斟上一杯。凤姐儿便笑道：“宝玉，别喝冷酒，仔细手颤，明儿写不得字，拉不得弓。”宝玉忙道：“没有吃冷酒。”凤姐儿笑道：“我知道没有，不过白嘱咐你。”然后宝玉将里面斟完，只除贾蓉之妻是丫头们斟的。复出至廊上，又与贾珍等斟了。坐了一回，方进来仍归旧坐。

一時上湯後，又接獻元宵來。Presently, after the soup was served, sweet rice-flour dumplings were brought in next.賈母便命將戲暫歇歇：“小孩子們可怜見的，也給他們些滾湯滾菜的吃了再唱。”又命將各色果子元宵等物拿些與他們吃去。Grandmother Jia had the opera paused for a while, saying, "The poor children — give them some hot soup and hot dishes to eat before they go on singing again." She also had various fruits, dumplings and the like taken out for them to eat.一時歇了戲，便有婆子帶了兩個門下常走的女先生兒進來，放兩張杌子在那一邊命他坐了，將弦子琵琶遞過去。Once the opera had stopped for a while, some old women brought in two women storytellers who frequented the household, set two stools off to one side for them to sit, and handed them a three-stringed lute and a pipa.賈母便問李薛聽何書，他二人都回說：“不拘什麼都好。”賈母便問：“近來可有添些什麼新書？”那兩個女先兒回說道：“倒有一段新書，是殘唐五代的故事。”賈母問是何名，女先兒道：“叫做《鳳求鸞》。”賈母道：“這一個名字倒好，不知因什麼起的，先大概說說原故，若好再說。”女先兒道：“這書上乃說殘唐之時，有一位鄉紳，本是金陵人氏，名喚王忠，曾做過兩朝宰輔。Grandmother Jia asked Aunt Li and Aunt Xue what tale they'd like to hear; both replied, "Anything at all will do." Grandmother Jia then asked, "Have you added any new tales lately?" The two storytellers answered, "There is one new tale, set in the story of the late Tang and the Five Dynasties." Grandmother Jia asked its title, and the storyteller said, "It's called Phoenix Seeks the Luan." Grandmother Jia said, "Now that's rather a good title — I wonder what it's based on. Give us the gist of it first, and if it's good we'll hear the rest." The storyteller said, "The tale tells that in the waning years of the Tang there was a country gentleman, a native of Jinling, named Wang Zhong, who had twice served as chief minister under two reigns.如今告老還家，膝下只有一位公子，名喚王熙鳳。”眾人聽了，笑將起來。Now retired and returned home in his old age, he had but one son under his knee, named Wang Xifeng." Everyone burst out laughing on hearing this.賈母笑道：“這重了我們鳳丫頭了。”媳婦忙上去推他，“這是二奶奶的名字，少混說。”賈母笑道：“你說，你說。”女先生忙笑著站起來，說：“我們該死了，不知是奶奶的諱。”鳳姐兒笑道：“怕什麼，你們只管說罷，重名重姓的多呢。”女先生又說道：“這年王老爺打發了王公子上京赶考，那日遇見大雨，進到一個庄上避雨。Grandmother Jia said with a laugh, "That duplicates the name of our Xifeng here." A serving woman hastily went up and nudged the storyteller, "That's the Second Mistress's name — mind what you say." Grandmother Jia said with a laugh, "Go on, go on." The storyteller hastily rose with a laugh and said, "We deserve to die for it — we didn't know it was Madam's own name." Xifeng said with a smile, "What's there to fear? Just go on with it — there are plenty of people who share the same name and surname." The storyteller went on, "That year old Squire Wang sent young Master Wang up to the capital to sit the examinations, and one day he ran into heavy rain and took shelter at a manor.誰知這庄上也有個鄉紳，姓李，與王老爺是世交，便留下這公子住在書房里。As it turned out, this manor too belonged to a country gentleman, surnamed Li, an old family friend of Squire Wang's, who kept the young master there, lodging him in the study.這李鄉紳膝下無兒，只有一位千金小姐。This Squire Li had no son, only a single precious daughter.這小姐芳名叫作雛鸞，琴棋書畫，無所不通。”賈母忙道：“怪道叫作《鳳求鸞》。This young lady's fair name was Chuluan, and there was nothing in music, chess, calligraphy, or painting that she did not master." Grandmother Jia said at once, "No wonder it's called Phoenix Seeks the Luan.不用說，我猜著了，自然是這王熙鳳要求這雛鸞小姐為妻。”女先兒笑道：“老祖宗原來聽過這一回書。”眾人都道：“老太太什麼沒聽過！No need to say more, I've guessed it — of course this Wang Xifeng means to seek Miss Chuluan for his wife." The storyteller said with a laugh, "So Your Old Ancestress has heard this tale before." Everyone said, "What hasn't Grandmother heard!便沒聽過，也猜著了。”賈母笑道：“這些書都是一個套子，左不過是些佳人才子，最沒趣兒。Even if she hadn't heard it, she'd have guessed it anyway." Grandmother Jia said with a smile, "All these tales follow the same old mold — nothing but talented scholars and beautiful maidens, and they're the most tiresome thing.把人家女兒說的那樣坏，還說是佳人，編的連影兒也沒有了。They make some other family's daughter out to be so wicked and yet still call her a paragon — they invent things that have no basis in reality at all.開口都是書香門第，父親不是尚書就是宰相，生一個小姐必是愛如珍寶。The moment they open their mouths it's always some family of scholarly repute, the father either a minister or a chancellor, and the one daughter born to them is always cherished like a treasure.這小姐必是通文知禮，無所不曉，竟是個絕代佳人。This young lady must always be learned and versed in propriety, knowing everything there is to know, an unrivaled beauty of her age.只一見了一個清俊的男人，不管是親是友，便想起終身大事來，父母也忘了，書禮也忘了，鬼不成鬼，賊不成賊，那一點兒是佳人？Yet the moment she lays eyes on some handsome young man, whether kinsman or family friend, she starts thinking of her whole life's happiness — forgetting her parents, forgetting all propriety, neither ghost nor thief but acting like both — where in that is there a shred of a paragon?便是滿腹文章，做出這些事來，也算不得是佳人了。Even if she's brimming with learning, once she behaves like that, she can no longer be called a paragon.比如男人滿腹文章去作賊，難道那王法就說他是才子，就不入賊情一案不成？It's just like a man full of learning who goes and commits theft — would the law then call him a talented scholar and not book him for theft all the same?可知那編書的是自己塞了自己的嘴。This just shows that the ones who write these tales have stopped up their own mouths with contradictions.再者，既說是世宦書香大家小姐都知禮讀書，連夫人都知書識禮，便是告老還家，自然這樣大家人口不少，奶母丫鬟伏侍小姐的人也不少，怎麼這些書上，凡有這樣的事，就只小姐和緊跟的一個丫鬟？What's more, if they say the young lady is from a family of officials and scholars, versed in propriety and learning, and even the lady of the house knows books and manners, and moreover the family has retired home from office — then naturally such a great household would have no small number of people in it, and no small number of wet-nurses and maids waiting on the young lady. So how is it that in all these tales, whenever such a thing happens, there's only the young lady and a single maid close at her side?你們白想想，那些人都是管什麼的，可是前言不答後語？”眾人聽了，都笑說：“老太太這一說，是謊都批出來了。”賈母笑道：“這有個原故：編這樣書的，有一等妒人家富貴，或有求不遂心，所以編出來污穢人家。Just think about it — what were all those other people there for? Doesn't it fail to add up from beginning to end?" Everyone laughed on hearing this and said, "Now that Old Ancestress puts it that way, every lie in it has been exposed." Grandmother Jia said with a smile, "There's a reason for it: those who write such tales are of a sort who envy other families' wealth and standing, or else have had some wish thwarted, and so they invent these stories to besmirch good families.再一等，他自己看了這些書看魔了，他也想一個佳人，所以編了出來取樂。Then there's another sort — they've read so many such tales themselves that they've gone quite mad over them, and they too long for a paragon of their own, so they make up these stories for their own amusement.何嘗他知道那世宦讀書家的道理！When have they ever understood the true ways of a family of officials and scholars!別說他那書上那些世宦書禮大家，如今眼下真的，拿我們這中等人家說起，也沒有這樣的事，別說是那些大家子。Never mind those grand official, scholarly, propriety-minded families in their books — take our own household right now, a middling sort of family, and even here nothing of the kind happens, let alone in truly great households.可知是謅掉了下巴的話。It just goes to show these are lies spun so wild they'd make your jaw drop off.所以我們從不許說這些書，丫頭們也不懂這些話。That's why we've never allowed such tales to be told here, and the maids don't even understand such talk.這幾年我老了，他們姊妹們住的遠，我偶然悶了，說幾句聽聽，他們一來，就忙歇了。”李薛二人都笑說：“這正是大家的規矩，連我們家也沒這些雜話給孩子們聽見。”These past years, now that I'm old and the girls live farther off, when I happen to feel bored I have a few lines told just to listen to — but the moment they arrive, I have it stopped at once." Aunt Li and Aunt Xue both said with a smile, "That's exactly the rule in a proper household — even in our own families, the children are never allowed to hear such idle talk."

一时上汤后，又接献元宵来。贾母便命将戏暂歇歇：“小孩子们可怜见的，也给他们些滚汤滚菜的吃了再唱。”又命将各色果子元宵等物拿些与他们吃去。一时歇了戏，便有婆子带了两个门下常走的女先生儿进来，放两张杌子在那一边命他坐了，将弦子琵琶递过去。贾母便问李薛听何书，他二人都回说：“不拘什么都好。”贾母便问：“近来可有添些什么新书？”那两个女先儿回说道：“倒有一段新书，是残唐五代的故事。”贾母问是何名，女先儿道：“叫做《凤求鸾》。”贾母道：“这一个名字倒好，不知因什么起的，先大概说说原故，若好再说。”女先儿道：“这书上乃说残唐之时，有一位乡绅，本是金陵人氏，名唤王忠，曾做过两朝宰辅。如今告老还家，膝下只有一位公子，名唤王熙凤。”众人听了，笑将起来。贾母笑道：“这重了我们凤丫头了。”媳妇忙上去推他，“这是二奶奶的名字，少混说。”贾母笑道：“你说，你说。”女先生忙笑著站起来，说：“我们该死了，不知是奶奶的讳。”凤姐儿笑道：“怕什么，你们只管说罢，重名重姓的多呢。”女先生又说道：“这年王老爷打发了王公子上京赶考，那日遇见大雨，进到一个庄上避雨。谁知这庄上也有个乡绅，姓李，与王老爷是世交，便留下这公子住在书房里。这李乡绅膝下无儿，只有一位千金小姐。这小姐芳名叫作雏鸾，琴棋书画，无所不通。”贾母忙道：“怪道叫作《凤求鸾》。不用说，我猜著了，自然是这王熙凤要求这雏鸾小姐为妻。”女先儿笑道：“老祖宗原来听过这一回书。”众人都道：“老太太什么没听过！便没听过，也猜著了。”贾母笑道：“这些书都是一个套子，左不过是些佳人才子，最没趣儿。把人家女儿说的那样坏，还说是佳人，编的连影儿也没有了。开口都是书香门第，父亲不是尚书就是宰相，生一个小姐必是爱如珍宝。这小姐必是通文知礼，无所不晓，竟是个绝代佳人。只一见了一个清俊的男人，不管是亲是友，便想起终身大事来，父母也忘了，书礼也忘了，鬼不成鬼，贼不成贼，那一点儿是佳人？便是满腹文章，做出这些事来，也算不得是佳人了。比如男人满腹文章去作贼，难道那王法就说他是才子，就不入贼情一案不成？可知那编书的是自己塞了自己的嘴。再者，既说是世宦书香大家小姐都知礼读书，连夫人都知书识礼，便是告老还家，自然这样大家人口不少，奶母丫鬟伏侍小姐的人也不少，怎么这些书上，凡有这样的事，就只小姐和紧跟的一个丫鬟？你们白想想，那些人都是管什么的，可是前言不答后语？”众人听了，都笑说：“老太太这一说，是谎都批出来了。”贾母笑道：“这有个原故：编这样书的，有一等妒人家富贵，或有求不遂心，所以编出来污秽人家。再一等，他自己看了这些书看魔了，他也想一个佳人，所以编了出来取乐。何尝他知道那世宦读书家的道理！别说他那书上那些世宦书礼大家，如今眼下真的，拿我们这中等人家说起，也没有这样的事，别说是那些大家子。可知是诌掉了下巴的话。所以我们从不许说这些书，丫头们也不懂这些话。这几年我老了，他们姊妹们住的远，我偶然闷了，说几句听听，他们一来，就忙歇了。”李薛二人都笑说：“这正是大家的规矩，连我们家也没这些杂话给孩子们听见。”

鳳姐兒走上來斟酒，笑道：“罷，罷，酒冷了，老祖宗喝一口潤潤嗓子再掰謊。Xifeng came forward to pour the wine and said with a smile, "Enough, enough — the wine's gone cold. Old Ancestress, have a sip to wet your throat before you go on exposing more lies.這一回就叫作《掰謊記》，就出在本朝本地本年本月本日本時，老祖宗一張口難說兩家話，花開兩朵，各表一枝，是真是謊且不表，再整那觀燈看戲的人。This episode shall be called The Tale of Exposing Lies, set right here in this very dynasty, this very place, this very year, month, day, and hour — but Old Ancestress can't speak of two matters at once with one mouth. As they say, two flowers bloom but one branch is told at a time — whether it's truth or lies we'll leave aside for now, and get back to the people watching the lanterns and the opera.老祖宗且讓這二位親戚吃一杯酒看兩出戲之後，再從昨朝話言掰起如何？”他一面斟酒，一面笑說，未曾說完，眾人俱已笑倒。Why not let Old Ancestress allow our two relatives here to drink a cup of wine and watch a couple more scenes, and then take up exposing yesterday's tales again afterward?" She spoke with a laugh as she poured the wine, and before she had even finished, everyone was already doubled over with laughter.兩個女先生也笑個不住，都說：“奶奶好剛口。The two women storytellers could not stop laughing either, and both said, "Madam has such a sharp tongue.奶奶要一說書，真連我們吃飯的地方也沒了。”薛姨媽笑道：“你少興頭些，外頭有人，比不得往常。”鳳姐兒笑道：“外頭的只有一位珍大爺。If Madam ever took up storytelling herself, there'd truly be no place left for us to earn our rice." Aunt Xue said with a smile, "Don't get so carried away — there are outsiders present, it's not like usual." Xifeng said with a smile, "The only outsider there is Cousin Zhen.我們還是論哥哥妹妹，從小兒一處淘氣了這麼大。And he and I still reckon ourselves as brother and sister — we got into mischief together since we were little, right up till now.這幾年因做了親，我如今立了多少規矩了。These past years, since I married in, I've set up ever so many rules for myself.便不是從小兒的兄妹，便以伯叔論，那《二十四孝》上‘斑衣戲彩’，他們不能來‘戲彩’引老祖宗笑一笑，我這里好容易引的老祖宗笑了一笑，多吃了一點兒東西，大家喜歡，都該謝我纔是，難道反笑話我不成？”賈母笑道：“可是這兩日我竟沒有痛痛的笑一場，倒是虧他纔一路笑的我心里痛快了些，我再吃一鐘酒。”吃著酒，又命寶玉：“也敬你姐姐一杯。”鳳姐兒笑道：“不用他敬，我討老祖宗的壽罷。”說著，便將賈母的杯拿起來，將半杯剩酒吃了，將杯遞與丫鬟，另將溫水浸的杯換了一個上來。And even setting aside being childhood siblings, reckoning it instead by uncle and nephew, well — in the Twenty-Four Exemplars of Filial Piety there's the tale of 'wearing motley to amuse one's parents.' Since they can't come and 'wear motley' to make Old Ancestress laugh, and here I've gone to the trouble of making Old Ancestress laugh, so that she's eaten a bit more and everyone's pleased — you should all be thanking me for it, shouldn't you? Are you going to laugh at me instead?" Grandmother Jia said with a smile, "Indeed, these past couple of days I hadn't had a really good laugh, and it's thanks to her running on like this that I feel more cheerful inside — I'll have another cup of wine." As she drank, she also told Baoyu, "Offer your sister a cup too." Xifeng said with a smile, "No need for him to offer it — I'll just help myself to some of Old Ancestress's own longevity." So saying, she picked up Grandmother Jia's cup, drank off the half-cup of wine left in it, handed the cup to a maid, and had another cup, one that had been steeping in warm water, brought up in its place.于是各席上的杯都撤去，另將溫水浸著待換的杯斟了新酒上來，然後歸坐。Thereupon the cups at every table were taken away, and fresh cups that had been steeping in warm water ready for the exchange were filled with new wine and brought up, after which everyone returned to their seats.

凤姐儿走上来斟酒，笑道：“罢，罢，酒冷了，老祖宗喝一口润润嗓子再掰谎。这一回就叫作《掰谎记》，就出在本朝本地本年本月本日本时，老祖宗一张口难说两家话，花开两朵，各表一枝，是真是谎且不表，再整那观灯看戏的人。老祖宗且让这二位亲戚吃一杯酒看两出戏之后，再从昨朝话言掰起如何？”他一面斟酒，一面笑说，未曾说完，众人俱已笑倒。两个女先生也笑个不住，都说：“奶奶好刚口。奶奶要一说书，真连我们吃饭的地方也没了。”薛姨妈笑道：“你少兴头些，外头有人，比不得往常。”凤姐儿笑道：“外头的只有一位珍大爷。我们还是论哥哥妹妹，从小儿一处淘气了这么大。这几年因做了亲，我如今立了多少规矩了。便不是从小儿的兄妹，便以伯叔论，那《二十四孝》上‘斑衣戏彩’，他们不能来‘戏彩’引老祖宗笑一笑，我这里好容易引的老祖宗笑了一笑，多吃了一点儿东西，大家喜欢，都该谢我才是，难道反笑话我不成？”贾母笑道：“可是这两日我竟没有痛痛的笑一场，倒是亏他才一路笑的我心里痛快了些，我再吃一钟酒。”吃著酒，又命宝玉：“也敬你姐姐一杯。”凤姐儿笑道：“不用他敬，我讨老祖宗的寿罢。”说著，便将贾母的杯拿起来，将半杯剩酒吃了，将杯递与丫鬟，另将温水浸的杯换了一个上来。于是各席上的杯都撤去，另将温水浸著待换的杯斟了新酒上来，然后归坐。

女先生回說：“老祖宗不聽這書，或者彈一套曲子聽聽罷。”賈母便說道：“你們兩個對一套《將軍令》罷。”二人聽說，忙和弦按調撥弄起來。The storytellers said, "If Old Ancestress doesn't care to hear the tale, perhaps we might play a set of music instead." Grandmother Jia said, "The two of you play a duet of 'The General's Command.'" Hearing this, the two of them hastily tuned their strings and began to play in accord.賈母因問：“天有幾更了。”眾婆子忙回：“三更了。”賈母道：“怪道寒浸浸的起來。”早有眾丫鬟拿了添換的衣裳送來。Grandmother Jia then asked, "What watch of the night is it?" The old women hastily answered, "The third watch." Grandmother Jia said, "No wonder it's turned so chilly." Already the maids had brought extra clothes to change into.王夫人起身笑說道：“老太太不如挪進暖閣里地炕上倒也罷了。Lady Wang rose and said with a smile, "Wouldn't it be better if Your Ladyship moved into the warm inner room, onto the heated brick bed there?這二位親戚也不是外人，我們陪著就是了。”賈母聽說，笑道：“既這樣說，不如大家都挪進去，豈不暖和？”王夫人道：“恐里間坐不下。”賈母笑道：“我有道理。These two relatives aren't outsiders either — we can simply keep them company there." Grandmother Jia said with a smile on hearing this, "Since you put it that way, why not have everyone move inside together — wouldn't that be warmer?" Lady Wang said, "I'm afraid the inner room won't hold everyone." Grandmother Jia said with a smile, "I have a way.如今也不用這些桌子，只用兩三張并起來，大家坐在一處擠著，又親香，又暖和。”眾人都道：“這纔有趣。”說著，便起了席。There's no need for all these separate tables now — just push two or three together, and everyone can crowd in close together, all the friendlier and warmer for it." Everyone said, "Now that would be fun." With that, they rose from the feast.眾媳婦忙撤去殘席，里面直順并了三張大桌，另又添換了果饌擺好。The serving women hastily cleared away the remains of the feast, and inside they pushed three large tables together in a row, then set out fresh fruit and dishes.賈母便說：“這都不要拘禮，只聽我分派你們就坐纔好。”說著便讓薛李正面上坐，自己西向坐了，叫寶琴，黛玉，湘雲三人皆緊依左右坐下，向寶玉說：“你挨著你太太。”于是邢夫人王夫人之中夾著寶玉，寶釵等姊妹在西邊，挨次下去便是婁氏帶著賈菌，尤氏李紈夾著賈蘭，下面橫頭便是賈蓉之妻。Grandmother Jia said, "No need to stand on ceremony here — just listen to me and sit where I place you." So saying, she had Aunt Xue and Aunt Li take the seats of honor facing them, while she herself sat facing west, and had Baoqin, Daiyu, and Xiangyun all sit close by on either side of her; to Baoyu she said, "You sit next to your aunt." And so Baoyu was seated wedged between Lady Xing and Lady Wang, while Baochai and the other sisters sat on the west side; going on down in order came Mrs. Lou with Jia Jun, then You-shi and Li Wan with Jia Lan between them, and at the far end, crosswise, sat Jia Rong's wife.賈母便說：“珍哥兒帶著你兄弟們去罷，我也就睡了。”Grandmother Jia then said, "Zhen-ge'er, take your brothers off now — I'll be going to sleep myself soon."

女先生回说：“老祖宗不听这书，或者弹一套曲子听听罢。”贾母便说道：“你们两个对一套《将军令》罢。”二人听说，忙和弦按调拨弄起来。贾母因问：“天有几更了。”众婆子忙回：“三更了。”贾母道：“怪道寒浸浸的起来。”早有众丫鬟拿了添换的衣裳送来。王夫人起身笑说道：“老太太不如挪进暖阁里地炕上倒也罢了。这二位亲戚也不是外人，我们陪著就是了。”贾母听说，笑道：“既这样说，不如大家都挪进去，岂不暖和？”王夫人道：“恐里间坐不下。”贾母笑道：“我有道理。如今也不用这些桌子，只用两三张并起来，大家坐在一处挤著，又亲香，又暖和。”众人都道：“这才有趣。”说著，便起了席。众媳妇忙撤去残席，里面直顺并了三张大桌，另又添换了果馔摆好。贾母便说：“这都不要拘礼，只听我分派你们就坐才好。”说著便让薛李正面上坐，自己西向坐了，叫宝琴，黛玉，湘云三人皆紧依左右坐下，向宝玉说：“你挨著你太太。”于是邢夫人王夫人之中夹著宝玉，宝钗等姊妹在西边，挨次下去便是娄氏带著贾菌，尤氏李纨夹著贾兰，下面横头便是贾蓉之妻。贾母便说：“珍哥儿带著你兄弟们去罢，我也就睡了。”

賈珍忙答應，又都進來。Jia Zhen hastily assented, and they all came in once more.賈母道：“快去罷！Grandmother Jia said, "Off with you now!不用進來，纔坐好了，又都起來。No need to come in — we've only just settled into our seats, and now everyone's getting up again.你快歇著，明日還有大事呢。”賈珍忙答應了，又笑說：“留下蓉兒斟酒纔是。”賈母笑道：“正是忘了他。”賈珍答應了一個“是”，便轉身帶領賈璉等出來。Go and rest now, there's important business again tomorrow." Jia Zhen hastily assented, then added with a smile, "Rong'er ought to be left behind to pour the wine, though." Grandmother Jia said with a smile, "So he was — I'd quite forgotten him." Jia Zhen answered with a single "Yes," then turned and led Jia Lian and the others out.二人自是歡喜，便命人將賈琮賈璜各自送回家去，便邀了賈璉去追歡買笑，不在話下。The two of them were naturally delighted, and had someone see Jia Cong and Jia Huang each safely home, then invited Jia Lian along to go chase after pleasure and buy some laughter — but that need not be told here.

贾珍忙答应，又都进来。贾母道：“快去罢！不用进来，才坐好了，又都起来。你快歇著，明日还有大事呢。”贾珍忙答应了，又笑说：“留下蓉儿斟酒才是。”贾母笑道：“正是忘了他。”贾珍答应了一个“是”，便转身带领贾琏等出来。二人自是欢喜，便命人将贾琮贾璜各自送回家去，便邀了贾琏去追欢买笑，不在话下。

這里賈母笑道：“我正想著雖然這些人取樂，竟沒一對雙全的，就忘了蓉兒。Here Grandmother Jia said with a smile, "I was just thinking that with all these people enjoying themselves, there wasn't a single properly matched pair — and I'd quite forgotten about Rong'er.這可全了，蓉兒就合你媳婦坐在一處，倒也團圓了。”因有媳婦回說開戲，賈母笑道：“我們娘兒們正說的興頭，又要吵起來。Now it's complete — let Rong'er sit together with his wife, and that makes a proper reunion too." Just then a serving woman came to report that the opera was starting again, and Grandmother Jia said with a smile, "Here we mothers and children are just getting into the spirit of our talk, and now it's going to get noisy again."況且那孩子們熬夜怪冷的，也罷，叫他們且歇歇，把咱們的女孩子們叫了來，就在這臺上唱兩出給他們瞧瞧。”媳婦聽了，答應了出來，忙的一面著人往大觀園去傳人，一面二門口去傳小廝們伺候。"Besides, it's bitterly cold for those children to stay up so late — never mind, let them rest a while; call our own girls to come and sing a couple of scenes on this stage for them to watch." Hearing this, the wife assented and went out, hastening to send someone to Daguanyuan to summon the performers, while also sending word to the pages at the second gate to stand ready.小廝們忙至戲房將班中所有的大人一概帶出，只留下小孩子們。The pages hurried to the theater rooms and led out all the adults in the troupe, leaving only the children behind.

这里贾母笑道：“我正想著虽然这些人取乐，竟没一对双全的，就忘了蓉儿。这可全了，蓉儿就合你媳妇坐在一处，倒也团圆了。”因有媳妇回说开戏，贾母笑道：“我们娘儿们正说的兴头，又要吵起来。况且那孩子们熬夜怪冷的，也罢，叫他们且歇歇，把咱们的女孩子们叫了来，就在这台上唱两出给他们瞧瞧。”媳妇听了，答应了出来，忙的一面著人往大观园去传人，一面二门口去传小厮们伺候。小厮们忙至戏房将班中所有的大人一概带出，只留下小孩子们。

一時，梨香院的教習帶了文官等十二個人，從游廊角門出來。Presently, the instructor from Pear Fragrance Court brought Wenguan and eleven others, twelve in all, out through the side gate of the covered walkway.婆子們抱著幾個軟包，因不及抬箱，估料著賈母愛聽的三五出戲的彩衣包了來。The old women carried a few soft bundles in their arms — there being no time to bring the trunks — having guessed and packed up the costumes for the three or five plays that Grandmother Jia was fond of hearing.婆子們帶了文官等進去見過，只垂手站著。The old women brought Wenguan and the others in to pay their respects, and they stood there with hands lowered at their sides.賈母笑道：“大正月里，你師父也不放你們出來逛逛。Grandmother Jia said with a smile, "Here in the height of the New Year, does your teacher not even let you out to have a look around?你等唱什麼？What will you sing?剛纔八出《八義》鬧得我頭疼，咱們清淡些好。Those eight scenes of 'The Eight Righteous Ones' just now gave me a headache with all their clamor — let's have something quieter this time.你瞧瞧，薛姨太太這李親家太太都是有戲的人家，不知聽過多少好戲的。Just look — Aunt Xue here, and this Madam Li, our in-law, both come from families that keep their own troupes; there's no telling how many fine plays they've heard.這些姑娘都比咱們家姑娘見過好戲，聽過好曲子。These young ladies have all seen finer plays and heard better tunes than our own girls at home.如今這小戲子又是那有名玩戲家的班子，雖是小孩子們，卻比大班還強。And now these young players besides come from the troupe of a famous connoisseur of opera — though they're just children, they're better than the grown troupes.咱們好歹別落了褒貶，少不得弄個新樣兒的。We'd best not let ourselves be found wanting in their judgment — we simply must come up with something out of the ordinary.叫芳官唱一出《尋夢》，只提琴至管蕭合，笙笛一概不用。”文官笑道：“這也是的，我們的戲自然不能入姨太太和親家太太姑娘們的眼，不過聽我們一個發脫口齒，再聽一個喉嚨罷了。”賈母笑道：“正是這話了。”李嬸薛姨媽喜的都笑道：“好個靈透孩子，他也跟著老太太打趣我們。”賈母笑道：“我們這原是隨便的頑意兒，又不出去做買賣，所以竟不大合時。”說著又道：“叫葵官唱一出《惠明下書》，也不用抹臉。Let Fangguan sing a scene from 'Xunmeng,' with only the fiddle joined by the flute and panpipes — no sheng or di flutes at all." Wenguan said with a smile, "That's just as it should be — our performances surely can't measure up in the eyes of Aunt Xue, our in-law Madam Li, and the young ladies; it's only worth listening to one of us enunciate the lines, and then hearing another one's voice, that's all." Grandmother Jia said with a smile, "Exactly so." Madam Li and Aunt Xue, delighted, laughed and said, "What a sharp, clever child — she's even picked up teasing us from Old Ancestress." Grandmother Jia said with a smile, "This is all just idle amusement for us at home anyway, we're not putting on a show to sell tickets, so it hardly needs to keep to the fashion." So saying, she went on, "Let Kuiguan sing a scene from 'Huiming Delivers the Letter' — and there's no need to paint the face either.只用這兩出叫他們聽個疏异罷了。Just these two scenes will do, to let them hear something out of the ordinary, that's all.若省一點力，我可不依。”文官等聽了出來，忙去扮演上臺，先是《尋夢》，次是《下書》。If you skimp on effort in the least, I won't stand for it." Hearing this, Wenguan and the others went out, hurried to costume themselves and go up on stage — first 'Xunmeng,' then 'Xiashu.'眾人都鴉雀無聞，薛姨媽因笑道：“實在虧他，戲也看過幾百班，從沒見用簫管的。”賈母道：“也有，只是象方纔《西樓·楚江晴》一支，多有小生吹蕭和的。Everyone sat in silence, not a sound to be heard; Aunt Xue then said with a smile, "Really, it's remarkable — I've watched several hundred troupes perform, and I've never seen one use the flute like that." Grandmother Jia said, "Oh, there are some — it's just that with a piece like 'Chujiang Qing' from 'Xilou,' there are often young male leads who accompany themselves on the flute.這大套的實在少，這也在主人講究不講究罷了。Full suites like this one are truly rare — though that also depends on whether the master of the house cares to be particular about it or not.這算什麼出奇？”指湘雲道：“我象他這麼大的時節，他爺爺有一班小戲，偏有一個彈琴的湊了來，即如《西廂記》的《聽琴》，《玉簪記》的《琴挑》，《續琵琶》的《胡茄十八拍》，竟成了真的了，比這個更如何？”眾人都道：“這更難得了。”賈母便命個媳婦來，吩咐文官等叫他們吹一套《燈月圓》。What's so extraordinary about that?" — pointing at Xiangyun, she said, "When I was about her age, her grandfather kept a troupe of young players, and there happened to be one among them who played the zither — for pieces like 'Listening to the Zither' from 'The Story of the Western Wing,' or 'Zither Enticement' from 'The Jade Hairpin,' or the 'Eighteen Stanzas of the Nomad Flute' from 'The Lute Continued,' it truly came alive as though real — how does that compare to this?" Everyone said, "That would be harder to come by still." Grandmother Jia then summoned a wife of one of the stewards and instructed her to tell Wenguan and the others to play a suite of 'Lantern and Moon Full Round.'媳婦領命而去。The wife received the order and went off.

一时，梨香院的教习带了文官等十二个人，从游廊角门出来。婆子们抱著几个软包，因不及抬箱，估料著贾母爱听的三五出戏的彩衣包了来。婆子们带了文官等进去见过，只垂手站著。贾母笑道：“大正月里，你师父也不放你们出来逛逛。你等唱什么？刚才八出《八义》闹得我头疼，咱们清淡些好。你瞧瞧，薛姨太太这李亲家太太都是有戏的人家，不知听过多少好戏的。这些姑娘都比咱们家姑娘见过好戏，听过好曲子。如今这小戏子又是那有名玩戏家的班子，虽是小孩子们，却比大班还强。咱们好歹别落了褒贬，少不得弄个新样儿的。叫芳官唱一出《寻梦》，只提琴至管萧合，笙笛一概不用。”文官笑道：“这也是的，我们的戏自然不能入姨太太和亲家太太姑娘们的眼，不过听我们一个发脱口齿，再听一个喉咙罢了。”贾母笑道：“正是这话了。”李婶薛姨妈喜的都笑道：“好个灵透孩子，他也跟著老太太打趣我们。”贾母笑道：“我们这原是随便的顽意儿，又不出去做买卖，所以竟不大合时。”说著又道：“叫葵官唱一出《惠明下书》，也不用抹脸。只用这两出叫他们听个疏异罢了。若省一点力，我可不依。”文官等听了出来，忙去扮演上台，先是《寻梦》，次是《下书》。众人都鸦雀无闻，薛姨妈因笑道：“实在亏他，戏也看过几百班，从没见用箫管的。”贾母道：“也有，只是象方才《西楼·楚江晴》一支，多有小生吹萧和的。这大套的实在少，这也在主人讲究不讲究罢了。这算什么出奇？”指湘云道：“我象他这么大的时节，他爷爷有一班小戏，偏有一个弹琴的凑了来，即如《西厢记》的《听琴》，《玉簪记》的《琴挑》，《续琵琶》的《胡茄十八拍》，竟成了真的了，比这个更如何？”众人都道：“这更难得了。”贾母便命个媳妇来，吩咐文官等叫他们吹一套《灯月圆》。媳妇领命而去。

當下賈蓉夫妻二人捧酒一巡，鳳姐兒因見賈母十分高興，便笑道：“趁著女先兒們在這里，不如叫他們擊鼓，咱們傳梅，行一個‘春喜上眉梢’的令如何？”賈母笑道：“這是個好令，正對時對景。”忙命人取了一面黑漆銅釘花腔令鼓來，與女先兒們擊著，席上取了一枝紅梅。Just then Jia Rong and his wife made a round pouring wine, and Xifeng, seeing how in high spirits Grandmother Jia was, said with a smile, "Since the storytelling women are here, why not have them beat the drum while we pass the plum blossom around, and play a game of 'Spring Joy Rises to the Eyebrows' — how would that be?" Grandmother Jia said with a smile, "That's a fine game, just suited to the season and the scene." She promptly had someone fetch a black-lacquered, copper-studded, flower-patterned command drum for the storytelling women to beat, and had a spray of red plum blossom taken from the table.賈母笑道：“若到誰手里住了，吃一杯，也要說個什麼纔好。”鳳姐兒笑道：“依我說，誰象老祖宗要什麼有什麼呢。Grandmother Jia said with a smile, "Whoever it stops with when the drum stops must drink a cup, and had better say something too." Xifeng said with a smile, "As I see it, who else is like Old Ancestress, getting whatever she wants whenever she wants it?我們這不會的，豈不沒意思。For those of us who aren't skilled at it, wouldn't it be rather pointless?依我說也要雅俗共賞，不如誰輸了誰說個笑話罷。”眾人聽了，都知道他素日善說笑話，最是他肚內有無限的新鮮趣談。As I see it, it ought to please both the refined and the common taste alike — better that whoever loses tells a joke instead." Hearing this, everyone knew that she was always good at telling jokes, and that she had no end of fresh, amusing stories stored up inside her.今兒如此說，不但在席的諸人喜歡，連地下伏侍的老小人等無不喜歡。Now that she'd proposed this, not only were all those seated at the feast delighted, but even the old and young servants standing in attendance below were delighted as well.那小丫頭子們都忙出去，找姐喚妹的告訴他們：“快來聽，二奶奶又說笑話兒了。”眾丫頭子們便擠了一屋子。The young maidservants all hurried outside, calling to their sisters and telling them, "Come quick and listen — Second Mistress is telling jokes again!" And the maids all crowded into the room.于是戲完樂罷。And so the play and the music both came to an end.賈母命將些湯點果菜與文官等吃去，便命響鼓。Grandmother Jia ordered that some soup, pastries, fruit, and dishes be given to Wenguan and the others to eat, and then gave the order to sound the drum.那女先兒們皆是慣的，或緊或慢，或如殘漏之滴，或如迸豆之疾，或如驚馬之亂馳，或如疾電之光而忽暗。The storytelling women were all thoroughly practiced at it, now fast, now slow — now like the dripping of a water-clock running low, now like the swift scattering of beans bursting from their pods, now like a startled horse galloping wildly, now like a flash of lightning suddenly gone dark.其鼓聲慢，傳梅亦慢，鼓聲疾，傳梅亦疾。When the drumbeat was slow, the passing of the plum blossom was slow; when the drumbeat was quick, the passing of the plum blossom was quick.恰恰至賈母手中，鼓聲忽住。Just as it reached Grandmother Jia's hand, the drumbeat suddenly stopped.大家呵呵一笑，賈蓉忙上來斟了一杯。Everyone burst out laughing, and Jia Rong hurried forward to pour her a cup.眾人都笑道：“自然老太太先喜了，我們纔托賴些喜。”賈母笑道：“這酒也罷了，只是這笑話倒有些個難說。”眾人都說：“老太太的比鳳姐兒的還好還多，賞一個我們也笑一笑兒。”賈母笑道：“并沒什麼新鮮發笑的，少不得老臉皮子厚的說一個罷了。”因說道：“一家子養了十個兒子，娶了十房媳婦。Everyone said with a smile, "Naturally Old Ancestress must be pleased first, before we can share in any of the pleasure." Grandmother Jia said with a smile, "The wine is well enough, but this business of telling a joke is rather difficult." Everyone said, "Old Ancestress's jokes are even better and more plentiful than Xifeng's — favor us with one, and let us have a laugh too." Grandmother Jia said with a smile, "There's really nothing fresh enough to be funny, but since my old face is thick-skinned enough, I suppose I'll tell one anyway." So she said, "There was a family that raised ten sons, and took in ten daughters-in-law.惟有第十個媳婦伶俐，心巧嘴乖，公婆最疼，成日家說那九個不孝順。Only the tenth daughter-in-law was clever, quick-witted and sweet-tongued, and the parents-in-law doted on her most of all, saying all day long that the other nine were unfilial.這九個媳婦委屈，便商議說：‘咱們九個心里孝順，只是不象那小蹄子嘴巧，所以公公婆婆老了，只說他好，這委屈向誰訴去？’大媳婦有主意，便說道：‘咱們明兒到閻王廟去燒香，和閻王爺說去，問他一問，叫我們托生人，為什麼單單的給那小蹄子一張乖嘴，我們都是笨的。’眾人聽了都喜歡，說這主意不錯。The nine daughters-in-law felt wronged, and so they conferred together, saying, 'The nine of us are filial at heart, it's only that we're not as sweet-tongued as that little wretch, and so now that the parents-in-law are old, they say only she is good — to whom can we tell this grievance?' The eldest daughter-in-law had an idea, and said, 'Tomorrow let's go burn incense at the Temple of King Yama, and put it to King Yama himself — ask him why, in sending us to be reborn as humans, he gave that little wretch alone such a clever mouth, while all the rest of us are dull.' Everyone was pleased to hear this, and said it was not a bad plan.第二日便都到閻王廟里來燒了香，九個人都在供桌底下睡著了。The next day they all went to the Temple of King Yama and burned incense, and all nine of them fell asleep beneath the offering table.九個魂專等閻王駕到，左等不來，右等也不到。The nine souls waited there especially for King Yama's arrival, but wait as they might on this side, he did not come, and wait as they might on that side, he did not come either.正著急，只見孫行者駕著筋斗雲來了，看見九個魂便要拿金箍棒打，唬得九個魂忙跪下央求。Just as they were growing anxious, along came Sun Xingzhe riding his somersault cloud, and seeing the nine souls he raised his gold-banded staff to strike them, frightening the nine souls so badly that they hastily knelt down and begged for mercy.孫行者問原故，九個人忙細細的告訴了他。Sun Xingzhe asked the reason, and the nine of them hurriedly told him the whole story in detail.孫行者聽了，把腳一跺，歎了一口氣道：‘這原故幸虧遇見我，等著閻王來了，他也不得知道的。’九個人聽了，就求說：‘大圣發個慈悲，我們就好了。’孫行者笑道：‘這卻不難。Hearing this, Sun Xingzhe stamped his foot, sighed, and said, 'It's lucky indeed that you happened to meet me over this matter — even if you waited for King Yama to come, he wouldn't know the answer either.' Hearing this, the nine of them pleaded, saying, 'If the Great Sage would only show us some mercy, we would be satisfied.' Sun Xingzhe said with a smile, 'Why, that's not hard at all.那日你們妯娌十個托生時，可巧我到閻王那里去的，因為撒了泡尿在地下，你那小嬸子便吃了。On the day you ten sisters-in-law were being sent down to be reborn, it happened that I was there visiting King Yama, and since I made water on the ground, that little sister-in-law of yours went and drank it up.你們如今要伶俐嘴乖，有的是尿，再撒泡你們吃了就是了。’”說畢，大家都笑起來。If you all want to be clever and sweet-tongued now, there's no shortage of urine — I'll just make some more water, and you can drink it up, and that will be that.'" When she finished speaking, everyone burst out laughing.鳳姐兒笑道：“好的，幸而我們都笨嘴笨腮的，不然也就吃了猴兒尿了。”尤氏婁氏都笑向李紈道：“咱們這里誰是吃過猴兒尿的，別裝沒事人兒。”薛姨媽笑道：“笑話兒不在好歹，只要對景就發笑。”說著又擊起鼓來。Xifeng said with a smile, "Well then, it's a good thing the rest of us are all clumsy-mouthed and dull-tongued, or else we'd have drunk the monkey's urine too." You-shi and Lou-shi both laughed and said to Li Wan, "Now among us here, who is it that's drunk the monkey's urine — don't you go pretending you know nothing about it." Aunt Xue said with a smile, "A joke needn't be good or bad, so long as it fits the moment, it'll get a laugh." So saying, they began beating the drum again.小丫頭子們只要聽鳳姐兒的笑話，便悄悄的和女先兒說明，以咳嗽為記。The young maidservants, wanting only to hear Xifeng's joke, quietly arranged with the storytelling women to use a cough as the signal.須臾傳至兩遍，剛到了鳳姐兒手里，小丫頭子們故意咳嗽，女先兒便住了。In a moment it had gone around twice, and just as it reached Xifeng's hand, the young maidservants coughed on purpose, and the storytelling women stopped at once.眾人齊笑道：“這可拿住他了。Everyone laughed together and said, "Now we've got her.快吃了酒說一個好的，別太逗的人笑的腸子疼。”鳳姐兒想了一想，笑道：“一家子也是過正月半，合家賞燈吃酒，真真的熱鬧非常，祖婆婆，太婆婆，婆婆，媳婦，孫子媳婦，重孫子媳婦，親孫子，侄孫子，重孫子，灰孫子，滴滴搭搭的孫子，孫女兒，外孫女兒，姨表孫女兒，姑表孫女兒，……Drink up quickly and tell us a good one, and don't make it so funny our sides split with laughing." Xifeng thought a moment, then said with a smile, "There was a family, also celebrating the Lantern Festival, the whole household enjoying the lanterns and drinking wine, truly lively beyond compare — great-great-grandmother, great-grandmother, grandmother, daughters-in-law, grandsons' wives, great-grandsons' wives, own grandsons, nephews' grandsons, great-grandsons, remote great-great-grandsons, every last dribbling trailing grandson you could name, granddaughters, granddaughters through daughters, cousin-granddaughters on the mother's side, cousin-granddaughters on the father's side...噯喲喲，真好熱鬧！”眾人聽他說著，已經笑了，都說：“聽數貧嘴，又不知編派那一個呢。”尤氏笑道：“你要招我，我可撕你的嘴。”鳳姐兒起身拍手笑道：“人家費力說，你們混，我就不說了。”賈母笑道：“你說你說，底下怎麼樣？”鳳姐兒想了一想，笑道：“底下就團團的坐了一屋子，吃了一夜酒就散了。”眾人見他正言厲色的說了，別無他話，都怔怔的還等下話，只覺冰冷無味。Oh my, what liveliness indeed!" Hearing her go on like this, everyone was already laughing, and all said, "Listen to her rattling on — there's no telling who she's poking fun at this time." You-shi said with a smile, "If you're trying to provoke me, I'll tear that mouth of yours." Xifeng rose, clapped her hands, and said with a smile, "Here I go to all this trouble talking, and you all just carry on — very well, I won't say any more." Grandmother Jia said with a smile, "Go on, go on, what happened next?" Xifeng thought a moment, then said with a smile, "After that they all sat crowded round in a room, drank wine the whole night through, and then broke up." Seeing her say this in such an earnest, sober tone with nothing more to add, everyone sat there dazed, still waiting for what came next, and found it only flat and tasteless.史湘雲看了他半日。Shi Xiangyun stared at her for a long while.鳳姐兒笑道：“再說一個過正月半的。Xifeng said with a smile, "Let me tell another one about celebrating the Lantern Festival.幾個人抬著個房子大的炮仗往城外放去，引了上萬的人跟著瞧去。Several men were carrying a firecracker as big as a house out beyond the city walls to set it off, and it drew tens of thousands of people following along to watch.有一個性急的人等不得，便偷著拿香點著了。There was one impatient fellow who couldn't wait, and secretly took an incense stick and lit it.只聽‘噗哧’一聲，眾人哄然一笑都散了。All that was heard was a 'phht,' and the whole crowd burst into laughter and scattered.這抬炮仗的人抱怨賣炮仗的捍的不結實，沒等放就散了。”湘雲道：“難道他本人沒聽見響？”鳳姐兒道：“這本人原是聾子。”眾人聽說，一回想，不覺一齊失聲都大笑起來。Those carrying the firecracker complained that whoever made it hadn't packed it firmly enough, since it fell apart before it even went off." Xiangyun said, "Didn't the man himself hear the bang?" Xifeng said, "Why, the man himself happened to be deaf." Hearing this, everyone thought it over for a moment, and then all burst out laughing helplessly together.又想著先前那一個沒完的，問他：“先一個怎麼樣？Then, remembering the earlier one that hadn't been finished, they asked her, "What about the first one — how did it end?也該說完。”鳳姐兒將桌子一拍，說道：“好羅唆，到了第二日是十六日，年也完了，節也完了，我看著人忙著收東西還鬧不清，那里還知道底下的事了。”眾人聽說，复又笑將起來。You ought to finish that one too." Xifeng slapped the table and said, "What a lot of fuss — the next day was the sixteenth, the New Year was over, the festival was over, and I was busy watching people scramble to put things away without even getting it straight, so how would I know what happened after that?" Hearing this, everyone burst out laughing all over again.鳳姐兒笑道：“外頭已經四更，依我說，老祖宗也乏了，咱們也該‘聾子放炮仗——散了’罷。”尤氏等用手帕子握著嘴，笑的前仰後合，指他說道：“這個東西真會數貧嘴。”賈母笑道：“真真這鳳丫頭越發貧嘴了。”一面說，一面吩咐道：“他提炮仗來，咱們也把煙火放了解解酒。”Xifeng said with a smile, "It's already the fourth watch outside — as I see it, Old Ancestress must be tired too, and we ought to follow the deaf man's firecracker and 'break up' as well." You-shi and the others pressed their handkerchiefs to their mouths, rocking back and forth with laughter, and pointed at her, saying, "This creature really does know how to run on with her clever talk." Grandmother Jia said with a smile, "Truly, this Feng girl grows more glib-tongued by the day." So saying, she gave the order, "Since she's brought up firecrackers, let's set off the fireworks too, to help sober up the wine."

当下贾蓉夫妻二人捧酒一巡，凤姐儿因见贾母十分高兴，便笑道：“趁著女先儿们在这里，不如叫他们击鼓，咱们传梅，行一个‘春喜上眉梢’的令如何？”贾母笑道：“这是个好令，正对时对景。”忙命人取了一面黑漆铜钉花腔令鼓来，与女先儿们击著，席上取了一枝红梅。贾母笑道：“若到谁手里住了，吃一杯，也要说个什么才好。”凤姐儿笑道：“依我说，谁象老祖宗要什么有什么呢。我们这不会的，岂不没意思。依我说也要雅俗共赏，不如谁输了谁说个笑话罢。”众人听了，都知道他素日善说笑话，最是他肚内有无限的新鲜趣谈。今儿如此说，不但在席的诸人喜欢，连地下伏侍的老小人等无不喜欢。那小丫头子们都忙出去，找姐唤妹的告诉他们：“快来听，二奶奶又说笑话儿了。”众丫头子们便挤了一屋子。于是戏完乐罢。贾母命将些汤点果菜与文官等吃去，便命响鼓。那女先儿们皆是惯的，或紧或慢，或如残漏之滴，或如迸豆之疾，或如惊马之乱驰，或如疾电之光而忽暗。其鼓声慢，传梅亦慢，鼓声疾，传梅亦疾。恰恰至贾母手中，鼓声忽住。大家呵呵一笑，贾蓉忙上来斟了一杯。众人都笑道：“自然老太太先喜了，我们才托赖些喜。”贾母笑道：“这酒也罢了，只是这笑话倒有些个难说。”众人都说：“老太太的比凤姐儿的还好还多，赏一个我们也笑一笑儿。”贾母笑道：“并没什么新鲜发笑的，少不得老脸皮子厚的说一个罢了。”因说道：“一家子养了十个儿子，娶了十房媳妇。惟有第十个媳妇伶俐，心巧嘴乖，公婆最疼，成日家说那九个不孝顺。这九个媳妇委屈，便商议说：‘咱们九个心里孝顺，只是不象那小蹄子嘴巧，所以公公婆婆老了，只说他好，这委屈向谁诉去？’大媳妇有主意，便说道：‘咱们明儿到阎王庙去烧香，和阎王爷说去，问他一问，叫我们托生人，为什么单单的给那小蹄子一张乖嘴，我们都是笨的。’众人听了都喜欢，说这主意不错。第二日便都到阎王庙里来烧了香，九个人都在供桌底下睡著了。九个魂专等阎王驾到，左等不来，右等也不到。正著急，只见孙行者驾著筋斗云来了，看见九个魂便要拿金箍棒打，唬得九个魂忙跪下央求。孙行者问原故，九个人忙细细的告诉了他。孙行者听了，把脚一跺，叹了一口气道：‘这原故幸亏遇见我，等著阎王来了，他也不得知道的。’九个人听了，就求说：‘大圣发个慈悲，我们就好了。’孙行者笑道：‘这却不难。那日你们妯娌十个托生时，可巧我到阎王那里去的，因为撒了泡尿在地下，你那小婶子便吃了。你们如今要伶俐嘴乖，有的是尿，再撒泡你们吃了就是了。’”说毕，大家都笑起来。凤姐儿笑道：“好的，幸而我们都笨嘴笨腮的，不然也就吃了猴儿尿了。”尤氏娄氏都笑向李纨道：“咱们这里谁是吃过猴儿尿的，别装没事人儿。”薛姨妈笑道：“笑话儿不在好歹，只要对景就发笑。”说著又击起鼓来。小丫头子们只要听凤姐儿的笑话，便悄悄的和女先儿说明，以咳嗽为记。须臾传至两遍，刚到了凤姐儿手里，小丫头子们故意咳嗽，女先儿便住了。众人齐笑道：“这可拿住他了。快吃了酒说一个好的，别太逗的人笑的肠子疼。”凤姐儿想了一想，笑道：“一家子也是过正月半，合家赏灯吃酒，真真的热闹非常，祖婆婆，太婆婆，婆婆，媳妇，孙子媳妇，重孙子媳妇，亲孙子，侄孙子，重孙子，灰孙子，滴滴搭搭的孙子，孙女儿，外孙女儿，姨表孙女儿，姑表孙女儿，……嗳哟哟，真好热闹！”众人听他说著，已经笑了，都说：“听数贫嘴，又不知编派那一个呢。”尤氏笑道：“你要招我，我可撕你的嘴。”凤姐儿起身拍手笑道：“人家费力说，你们混，我就不说了。”贾母笑道：“你说你说，底下怎么样？”凤姐儿想了一想，笑道：“底下就团团的坐了一屋子，吃了一夜酒就散了。”众人见他正言厉色的说了，别无他话，都怔怔的还等下话，只觉冰冷无味。史湘云看了他半日。凤姐儿笑道：“再说一个过正月半的。几个人抬著个房子大的炮仗往城外放去，引了上万的人跟著瞧去。有一个性急的人等不得，便偷著拿香点著了。只听‘噗哧’一声，众人哄然一笑都散了。这抬炮仗的人抱怨卖炮仗的捍的不结实，没等放就散了。”湘云道：“难道他本人没听见响？”凤姐儿道：“这本人原是聋子。”众人听说，一回想，不觉一齐失声都大笑起来。又想著先前那一个没完的，问他：“先一个怎么样？也该说完。”凤姐儿将桌子一拍，说道：“好罗唆，到了第二日是十六日，年也完了，节也完了，我看著人忙著收东西还闹不清，那里还知道底下的事了。”众人听说，复又笑将起来。凤姐儿笑道：“外头已经四更，依我说，老祖宗也乏了，咱们也该‘聋子放炮仗——散了’罢。”尤氏等用手帕子握著嘴，笑的前仰后合，指他说道：“这个东西真会数贫嘴。”贾母笑道：“真真这凤丫头越发贫嘴了。”一面说，一面吩咐道：“他提炮仗来，咱们也把烟火放了解解酒。”

賈蓉聽了，忙出去帶著小廝們就在院內安下屏架，將煙火設吊齊備。Hearing this, Jia Rong hurried out and, taking the pages with him, set up the screening framework right there in the courtyard, arranging and hanging the fireworks all in readiness.這煙火皆系各處進貢之物，雖不甚大，卻极精巧，各色故事俱全，夾著各色花炮。These fireworks were all tribute items sent from various places; though not very large, they were extremely finely made, complete with every kind of scene and story, interspersed with all sorts of sparklers and firecrackers.林黛玉稟氣柔弱，不禁畢駁之聲，賈母便摟他在怀中。Lin Daiyu, being of frail constitution by nature, could not bear the popping, crackling noise, so Grandmother Jia gathered her into her arms.薛姨媽摟著湘雲。Aunt Xue held Xiangyun in her arms.湘雲笑道：“我不怕。”寶釵等笑道：“他專愛自己放大炮仗，還怕這個呢。”王夫人便將寶玉摟入怀內。Xiangyun said with a smile, "I'm not afraid." Baochai and the others said with a smile, "She loves nothing better than setting off big firecrackers herself — as if she'd be afraid of this." Lady Wang then gathered Baoyu into her arms.鳳姐兒笑道：“我們是沒有人疼的了。”尤氏笑道：“有我呢，我摟著你。Xifeng said with a smile, "I suppose there's no one to fuss over us, then." You-shi said with a smile, "You have me — I'll hold you.也不怕臊，你這孩子又撒嬌了，聽見放炮仗，吃了蜜蜂兒屎的，今兒又輕逛起來。”鳳姐兒笑道：“等散了，咱們園子里放去。Aren't you ashamed — acting the spoiled child again. The moment you hear firecrackers, it's as if you'd eaten bee droppings, getting all giddy and playful today." Xifeng said with a smile, "Once this breaks up, let's go set some off in the garden ourselves.我比小廝們還放的好呢。”說話之間，外面一色一色的放了又放，又有許多的滿天星，九龍入雲，一聲雷，飛天十響之類的零碎小爆竹。I can set them off even better than the pages can." Even as they spoke, outside one kind after another was being set off in succession, and there were besides a great many small assorted firecrackers of the sort called Stars Filling the Sky, Nine Dragons Entering the Clouds, Single Clap of Thunder, and Ten Reports Flying to Heaven.放罷，然後又命小戲子打了一回“蓮花落”，撒了滿臺錢，命那孩子們滿臺搶錢取樂。Once the fireworks were finished, she then had the young actors perform a round of "Lotus Flower Falls," and had coins scattered all over the stage, telling the children to scramble over the whole stage snatching up the coins for fun.又上湯時，賈母說道：“夜長，覺的有些餓了。”鳳姐兒忙回說：“有預備的鴨子肉粥。”賈母道：“我吃些清淡的罷。”鳳姐兒忙道：“也有棗兒熬的粳米粥，預備太太們吃齋的。”賈母笑道：“不是油膩膩的就是甜的。”鳳姐兒又忙道：“還有杏仁茶，只怕也甜。”賈母道：“倒是這個還罷了。”說著，又命人撤去殘席，外面另設上各种精致小菜。When the soup was served again, Grandmother Jia said, "The night is long, and I'm feeling a bit hungry." Xifeng hastily replied, "There's duck congee prepared." Grandmother Jia said, "Let me have something light instead." Xifeng hastily said, "There's also date-and-rice congee, prepared for the ladies who are keeping a vegetarian fast." Grandmother Jia said with a smile, "It's either greasy or sweet." Xifeng hastily said again, "There's almond tea too, though I'm afraid that's sweet as well." Grandmother Jia said, "That one will do well enough." So saying, she had the remains of the feast cleared away, and outside a fresh array of various delicate side dishes was set out.大家隨便隨意吃了些，用過漱口茶，方散。Everyone ate a little of whatever they pleased, and only after taking tea to rinse their mouths did the gathering break up.

贾蓉听了，忙出去带著小厮们就在院内安下屏架，将烟火设吊齐备。这烟火皆系各处进贡之物，虽不甚大，却极精巧，各色故事俱全，夹著各色花炮。林黛玉禀气柔弱，不禁毕驳之声，贾母便搂他在怀中。薛姨妈搂著湘云。湘云笑道：“我不怕。”宝钗等笑道：“他专爱自己放大炮仗，还怕这个呢。”王夫人便将宝玉搂入怀内。凤姐儿笑道：“我们是没有人疼的了。”尤氏笑道：“有我呢，我搂著你。也不怕臊，你这孩子又撒娇了，听见放炮仗，吃了蜜蜂儿屎的，今儿又轻逛起来。”凤姐儿笑道：“等散了，咱们园子里放去。我比小厮们还放的好呢。”说话之间，外面一色一色的放了又放，又有许多的满天星，九龙入云，一声雷，飞天十响之类的零碎小爆竹。放罢，然后又命小戏子打了一回“莲花落”，撒了满台钱，命那孩子们满台抢钱取乐。又上汤时，贾母说道：“夜长，觉的有些饿了。”凤姐儿忙回说：“有预备的鸭子肉粥。”贾母道：“我吃些清淡的罢。”凤姐儿忙道：“也有枣儿熬的粳米粥，预备太太们吃斋的。”贾母笑道：“不是油腻腻的就是甜的。”凤姐儿又忙道：“还有杏仁茶，只怕也甜。”贾母道：“倒是这个还罢了。”说著，又命人撤去残席，外面另设上各种精致小菜。大家随便随意吃了些，用过漱口茶，方散。

十七日一早，又過寧府行禮，伺候掩了宗祠，收過影像，方回來。Early on the seventeenth, they went once more to the Ning mansion to perform the rites, waited until the ancestral hall was closed up and the portrait images put away, and only then returned.此日便是薛姨媽家請吃年酒。That day it was Aunt Xue's household that invited everyone to a New Year feast.十八日便是賴大家，十九日便是寧府賴升家，二十日便是林之孝家，二十一日便是單大良家，二十二日便是吳新登家。On the eighteenth it was the Lai Da household; on the nineteenth, the Lai Sheng household of the Ning mansion; on the twentieth, the Lin Zhixiao household; on the twenty-first, the Shan Daliang household; and on the twenty-second, the Wu Xindeng household.這幾家，賈母也有去的，也有不去的，也有高興直待眾人散了方回的，也有興盡半日一時就來的。Of these several households, Grandmother Jia went to some and not to others; at some, in high spirits, she stayed on until everyone else had dispersed before returning, while at others, her interest spent within half a day, she came away almost at once.凡諸親友來請或來赴席的，賈母一概怕拘束不會，自有邢夫人，王夫人，鳳姐兒三人料理。As for all the various relatives and friends who came to invite her or to attend feasts, Grandmother Jia, dreading the constraint of it, declined to receive them one and all, leaving it entirely to Lady Xing, Lady Wang, and Xifeng, the three of them, to see to.連寶玉只除王子騰家去了，餘者亦皆不會，只說賈母留下解悶。Even Baoyu, apart from going to the Wang Ziteng household, saw none of the others either, simply pleading that Grandmother Jia had kept him back to help while away the time.所以倒是家下人家來請，賈母可以自便之處，方高興去逛逛。And so it was, rather, when it was the households of their own servants that invited her, places where Grandmother Jia was free to please herself, that she was glad to go and look in on them.閒言不提，且說當下元宵已過——要知端的，下回分解。Enough of such idle talk — let us say only that the Lantern Festival had by now passed. To know what happened next, read the following chapter.

十七日一早，又过宁府行礼，伺候掩了宗祠，收过影像，方回来。此日便是薛姨妈家请吃年酒。十八日便是赖大家，十九日便是宁府赖升家，二十日便是林之孝家，二十一日便是单大良家，二十二日便是吴新登家。这几家，贾母也有去的，也有不去的，也有高兴直待众人散了方回的，也有兴尽半日一时就来的。凡诸亲友来请或来赴席的，贾母一概怕拘束不会，自有邢夫人，王夫人，凤姐儿三人料理。连宝玉只除王子腾家去了，余者亦皆不会，只说贾母留下解闷。所以倒是家下人家来请，贾母可以自便之处，方高兴去逛逛。闲言不提，且说当下元宵已过——要知端的，下回分解。