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Chapter: [[Hongloumeng/zh-en1/Chapter_1|1]] · 2 · [[Hongloumeng/zh-en1/Chapter_3|3]] · [[Hongloumeng/zh-en1/Chapter_4|4]] · [[Hongloumeng/zh-en1/Chapter_5|5]] · [[Hongloumeng/zh-en1|← Contents]]
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= Chapter 2 / 第二回 =
== 贾夫人仙逝扬州城 ==
=== 冷子兴演说荣国府 ===

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! style="width:50%" | English Translation (EN1, Hawkes/Minford)
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第二回
贾夫人仙逝扬州城
冷子兴演说荣国府
却说封肃听见公差传唤，忙出来陪笑启问。那些人只嚷：“快请出甄爷来！”封肃忙陪笑道：“小人姓封，并不姓甄。只有当日小婿姓甄，今已出家一二年了。不知可是问他？”那些公人道：“我们也不知什么真假，既是你的女婿，就带了你去面禀太爷便了。”大家把封肃推拥而去。封家各各惊慌，不知何事。
至二更时分，封肃方回来。众人忙问端的，他说道：“原来新任太爷姓贾名化，本湖州人氏，曾与女婿旧交。因在我家门首看见娇杏丫头买线，只说女婿移住此间，所以来传。我将缘故回明，那太爷感伤叹息了一回。又问外孙女儿，我说看灯丢了。太爷说：‘不妨，待我差人去，务必找寻回来。’说了一会话，临走又送我二两银子。”甄家娘子听了，不觉感伤。一夜无话。
次日，早有雨村遣人送了两封银子、四匹锦缎，答谢甄家娘子；又一封密书与封肃，托他向甄家娘子要那娇杏作二房。封肃喜得眉开眼笑，巴不得去奉承太爷，便在女儿前一力撺掇。当夜用一乘小轿，便把娇杏送进衙内去了。雨村欢喜，自不必言；又封百金赠与封肃，又送甄家娘子许多礼物，令其且自过活，以待访寻女儿下落。
却说娇杏那丫头，便是当年回顾雨村的，因偶然一看，便弄出这段奇缘，也是意想不到之事。谁知他命运两济：不承望自到雨村身边只一年，便生一子；又半载，雨村嫡配忽染疾下世，雨村便将他扶作正室夫人。正是：
偶因一回顾，便为人上人。
原来雨村因那年士隐赠银之后，他于十六日便起身赴京。大比之期，十分得意，中了进士，选入外班，今已升了本县太爷。虽才干优长，未免贪酷，且恃才侮上，那同寅皆侧目而视。不上一年，便被上司参了一本，说他貌似有才，性实狡猾；又题了一两件徇庇蠹役、交结乡绅之事。龙颜大怒，即命革职。部文一到，本府各官无不喜悦。那雨村虽十分惭恨，面上却全无一点怨色，仍是嘻笑自若。交代过了公事，将历年所积的宦囊，并家属人等，送至原籍，安顿妥当了，却自己担风袖月，游览天下胜迹。那日偶又游至维扬地方，闻得今年盐政点的是林如海。
这林如海姓林名海，表字如海，乃是前科的探花，今已升兰台寺大夫，本贯姑苏人氏，今钦点为巡盐御史，到任未久。原来这林如海之祖，也曾袭过列侯的，今到如海，业经五世。起初只袭三世，因当今隆恩盛德，额外加恩，至如海之父又袭了一代，到了如海便从科第出身。虽系世禄之家，却是书香之族。只可惜这林家支庶不盛，人丁有限，虽有几门，却与如海俱是堂族，没甚亲支嫡派的。今如海年已五十，只有一个三岁之子，又于去岁亡了；虽有几房姬妾，奈命中无子，亦无可如何之事。只嫡妻贾氏生得一女，乳名黛玉，年方五岁，夫妻爱之如掌上明珠。见他生得聪明俊秀，也欲使他识几个字，不过假充养子，聊解膝下荒凉之叹。
且说贾雨村在旅店偶感风寒，愈后又因盘费不继，正欲得一个居停之所，以为息肩之地。偶遇两个旧友，认得新盐政，知他正要请一西席教训女儿，遂将雨村荐进衙门去。这女学生年纪幼小，身体又弱，功课不限多寡，其馀不过两个伴读丫鬟，故雨村十分省力，正好养病。看看又是一载有馀，不料女学生之母贾氏夫人一病而亡。女学生奉侍汤药，守丧尽礼，过于哀痛，素本怯弱，因此旧病复发，有好些时不曾上学。雨村闲居无聊，每当风日晴和，饭后便出来闲步。
这一日偶至郊外，意欲赏鉴那村野风光。信步至一山环水漩、茂林修竹之处，隐隐有座庙宇，门巷倾颓，墙垣剥落。有额题曰“智通寺”，门旁又有一副旧破的对联云：
身后有馀忘缩手，眼前无路想回头。
雨村看了，因想道：“这两句文虽甚浅，其意则深。也曾游过些名山大刹，倒不曾见过这话头。其中想必有个翻过筋斗来的，也未可知。何不进去一访？”走入看时，只有一个龙锺老僧在那里煮粥。雨村见了，却不在意。及至问他两句话，那老僧既聋且昏，又齿落舌钝，所答非所问。雨村不耐烦，仍退出来。意欲到那村肆中沽饮三杯，以助野趣，于是移步行来。
刚入肆门，只见座上吃酒之客，有一人起身大笑，接了出来，口内说：“奇遇，奇遇！”雨村忙看时，此人是都中古董行中贸易，姓冷号子兴的，旧日在都相识。雨村最赞这冷子兴是个有作为大本领的人，这子兴又借雨村斯文之名，故二人最相投契。雨村忙亦笑问：“老兄何日到此？弟竟不知。今日偶遇，真奇缘也！”子兴道：“去年岁底到家，今因还要入都，从此顺路找个敝友，说一句话。承他的情，留我多住两日。我也无甚紧事，且盘桓两日，待月半时也就起身了。今日敝友有事，我因闲走到此，不期这样巧遇。”一面说，一面让雨村同席坐了，另整上酒肴来。
二人闲谈慢饮，叙些别后之事。雨村因问：“近日都中可有新闻没有？”子兴道：“倒没有什么新闻，倒是老先生的贵同宗家出了一件小小的异事。”雨村笑道：“弟族中无人在都，何谈及此？”子兴笑道：“你们同姓，岂非一族？”雨村问：“是谁家？”子兴笑道：“荣国贾府中，可也不玷辱老先生的门楣了。”雨村道：“原来是他家。若论起来，寒族人丁却自不少，东汉贾复以来，支派繁盛，各省皆有，谁能逐细考查？若论荣国一支，却是同谱。但他那等荣耀，我们不便去认他，故越发生疏了。”
子兴叹道：“老先生休这样说。如今的这荣、宁两府，也都萧索了，不比先时的光景。”雨村道：“当日宁、荣两宅人口也极多，如何便萧索了呢？”子兴道：“正是，说来也话长。”雨村道：“去岁我到金陵时，因欲游览六朝遗迹，那日进了石头城，从他宅门前经过：街东是宁国府，街西是荣国府，二宅相连，竟将大半条街占了。大门外虽冷落无人，隔着围墙一望，里面厅殿楼阁，也还都峥嵘轩峻；就是后边一带花园里，树木山石，也都还有葱蔚洇润之气：那里像个衰败之家？”子兴笑道：“亏你是进士出身，原来不通。古人有言：‘百足之虫，死而不僵。’如今虽说不似先年那样兴盛，较之平常仕宦人家，到底气象不同。如今生齿日繁，事务日盛，主仆上下都是安富尊荣，运筹谋画的竟无一个；那日用排场，又不能将就省俭。如今外面的架子虽没很倒，内囊却也尽上来了。这也是小事。更有一件大事：谁知这样钟鸣鼎食的人家儿，如今养的儿孙，竟一代不如一代了。”
雨村听说，也道：“这样诗礼之家，岂有不善教育之理？别门不知，只说这宁、荣两宅，是最教子有方的，何至如此？”子兴叹道：“正说的是这两门呢！等我告诉你：当日宁国公是一母同胞弟兄两个。宁公居长，生了两个儿子。宁公死后，长子贾代化袭了官，也养了两个儿子：长子贾敷，八九岁上死了；只剩了一个次子贾敬，袭了官，如今一味好道，只爱烧丹炼汞，别事一概不管。幸而早年留下一个儿子，名唤贾珍，因他父亲一心想作神仙，把官倒让他袭了。他父亲又不肯住在家里，只在都中城外，和那些道士们胡羼。这位珍爷也生了一个儿子，今年才十六岁，名叫贾蓉。如今敬老爷不管事了。这珍爷那里干正事，只一味高乐不了，把那宁国府竟翻过来了，也没有敢来管他的人。再说荣府你听，方才所说异事就出在这里。自荣公死后，长子贾代善袭了官，娶的是金陵世家史侯的小姐为妻。生了两个儿子：长名贾赦，次名贾政。如今代善早已去世，太夫人尚在。长子贾赦袭了官，为人却也中平，也不管理家事。惟有次子贾政，自幼酷喜读书，为人端方正直。祖父锺爱，原要他从科甲出身。不料代善临终遗本一上，皇上怜念先臣，即叫长子袭了官；又问还有几个儿子，立刻引见，又将这政老爷赐了个额外主事职衔，叫他入部习学，如今现已升了员外郎。这政老爷的夫人王氏，头胎生的公子名叫贾珠，十四岁进学，后来娶了妻，生了子，不到二十岁，一病就死了。第二胎生了一位小姐，生在大年初一，就奇了。不想隔了十几年，又生了一位公子，说来更奇：一落胞胎，嘴里便衔下一块五彩晶莹的玉来，还有许多字迹。你道是新闻不是？”
雨村笑道：“果然奇异。只怕这人的来历不小。”子兴冷笑道：“万人都这样说，因而他祖母爱如珍宝。那年周岁时，政老爷试他将来的志向，便将世上所有的东西摆了无数叫他抓。谁知他一概不取，伸手只把些脂粉钗环抓来玩弄。那政老爷便不喜欢，说将来不过酒色之徒，因此不甚爱惜。独那太君还是命根子一般。说来又奇：如今长了十来岁，虽然淘气异常，但聪明乖觉，百个不及他一个。说起孩子话来也奇，他说：‘女儿是水做的骨肉，男子是泥做的骨肉。我见了女儿便清爽，见了男子便觉浊臭逼人。’你道好笑不好笑？将来色鬼无疑了。”
雨村罕然厉色道：“非也。可惜你们不知道这人的来历，大约政老前辈也错以淫魔色鬼看待了。若非多读书识事，加以致知格物之功、悟道参玄之力者，不能知也。”子兴见他说得这样重大，忙请教其故。
雨村道：“天地生人，除大仁大恶，馀者皆无大异。若大仁者则应运而生，大恶者则应劫而生；运生世治，劫生世危。尧、舜、禹、汤、文、武、周、召、孔、孟、董、韩、周、程、朱、张，皆应运而生者；蚩尤、共工、桀、纣、始皇、王莽、曹操、桓温、安禄山、秦桧等，皆应劫而生者。大仁者修治天下，大恶者扰乱天下。清明灵秀，天地之正气，仁者之所秉也；残忍乖僻，天地之邪气，恶者之所秉也。今当祚永运隆之日，太平无为之世，清明灵秀之气所秉者，上自朝廷，下至草野，比比皆是。所馀之秀气漫无所归，遂为甘露，为和风，洽然溉及四海。彼残忍乖邪之气，不能荡溢于光天化日之下，遂凝结充塞于深沟大壑之中。偶因风荡，或被云摧，略有摇动感发之意，一丝半缕误而逸出者，值灵秀之气适过，正不容邪，邪复妒正，两不相下；如风水雷电地中既遇，既不能消，又不能让，必致搏击掀发。既然发泄，那邪气亦必赋之于人。假使或男或女偶秉此气而生者，上则不能为仁人为君子，下亦不能为大凶大恶。置之千万人之中，其聪俊灵秀之气，则在千万人之上；其乖僻邪谬不近人情之态，又在千万人之下。若生于公侯富贵之家，则为情痴情种；若生于诗书清贫之族，则为逸士高人；纵然生于薄祚寒门，甚至为奇优，为名娼，亦断不至为走卒健仆，甘遭庸夫驱制。如前之许由、陶潜、阮籍、嵇康、刘伶、王谢二族、顾虎头、陈后主、唐明皇、宋徽宗、刘庭芝、温飞卿、米南宫、石曼卿、柳耆卿、秦少游，近日倪云林、唐伯虎、祝枝山，再如李龟年、黄幡绰、敬新磨、卓文君、红拂、薛涛、崔莺、朝云之流：此皆易地则同之人也。”
子兴道：“依你说，成则公侯败则贼了？”雨村道：“正是这意。你还不知，我自革职以来，这两年遍游各省，也曾遇见两个异样孩子，所以方才你一说这宝玉，我就猜着了八九也是这一派人物。不用远说，只这金陵城内钦差金陵省体仁院总裁甄家，你可知道？”子兴道：“谁人不知，这甄府就是贾府老亲，他们两家来往极亲热的。就是我也和他家往来非止一日了。”雨村笑道：“去岁我在金陵，也曾有人荐我到甄府处馆。我进去看其光景，谁知他家那等荣贵，却是个富而好礼之家，倒是个难得之馆。但是这个学生虽是启蒙，却比一个举业的还劳神。说起来更可笑，他说：‘必得两个女儿陪着我读书，我方能认得字，心上也明白；不然，我心里自己糊涂。’又常对着跟他的小厮们说：‘这“女儿”两个字极尊贵极清净的，比那瑞兽珍禽、奇花异草更觉稀罕尊贵呢。你们这种浊口臭舌，万万不可唐突了这两个字，要紧，要紧！但凡要说的时节，必用净水香茶漱了口方可；设若失错，便要凿牙穿眼的。’其暴虐顽劣，种种异常。只放了学进去，见了那些女儿们，其温厚和平，聪敏文雅，竟变了一个样子。因此，他令尊也曾下死笞楚过几次，竟不能改。每打的吃疼不过时，他便姐姐妹妹的乱叫起来。后来听得里面女儿们拿他取笑：‘因何打急了，只管叫姐妹作什么？莫不叫姐妹们去讨情讨饶？你岂不愧些？’他回答的最妙，他说：‘急痛之时，只叫姐姐妹妹字样，或可解疼，也未可知，因叫了一声，果觉疼得好些。遂得了秘法，每疼痛之极，便连叫姐妹起来了。’你说可笑不可笑？为他祖母溺爱不明，每因孙辱师责子，我所以辞了馆出来的。这等子弟，必不能守祖、父基业，从师友规劝的。只可惜他家几个好姊妹都是少有的。”

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CHAPTER 2

A daughter of the Jias ends her days
in Yangchow city
And Leng Zi-xing discourses on the Jias of
Rong-guo House

Hearing the clamour of yamen runners outside, Feng Su hurried to the door,
his face wreathed in smiles, to ask what they wanted. ‘Tell Mr Zhen to step
outside,’ they were shouting. ‘Hurry!’
Feng Su’s smile became even more ingratiating. ‘My name is Feng, not
Zhen. My son-in-law’s name is Zhen, but he left home to become a Taoist
more than a year ago. Could he be the one you want?’
‘“Feng” or “Zhen”, it’s all the same to us,’ said the runners; ‘but if
you’re his father-in-law you’d better come along with us to see the
magistrate.’ And they hustled him off, leaving the entire household in a
state of panic, quite at a loss to know what the trouble could be.
It was ten o’clock before Feng Su returned, and everyone pressed him to
give a full account of what had transpired.
‘It seems that the new mandarin is a Hu-zhou man called Jia. He used to
be an acquaintance of Shi-yin’s in the old days. He guessed that Shi-yin
must have moved to these parts when he saw our Lucky in the doorway buying
silks. That’s why he sent the runners here. I explained what had happened
to Shi-yin, and he seemed very upset. Then he asked me about Ying-lian, and
I said she was lost while out watching the lanterns. “Never mind,” he said,
“wait till I send some people out to look for her. We shall have her back
in no time.” Then we chatted a bit longer, and lust as I was going, he gave
me two taels of silver.’
Mrs Zhen could not help being affected by this account. But the rest of
that night we pass over in silence.
Early next day a messenger arrived from Yu-cun bearing two packets of
silver and four bolts of silk brocade for Mrs Zhen as a token of the
sender’s gratitude. There was also a confidential letter for Feng Su
commissioning him to ask Mrs Zhen for Lucky’s hand as Yu-cun’s second wife.
Enraptured at the prospect of doing a good turn for a mandarin, Feng Su
hastened to urge upon his daughter the importance of complying with this
request, and that very night Lucky was bundled into a small covered chair
and carried off to the yamen. Yu-cun’s delight goes without saying. Another
hundred taels of silver were despatched to Feng Su, together with a number
of good things for Mrs Zhen, to cheer and Sustain her until such time as
her daughter’s whereabouts could be discovered.
Lucky was, of course, the maid who had once turned back to look at Yu-
cun when they were living at the house in Soochow. She could scarcely have
foreseen at the time what singular good fortune that one glance would
procure for her. But she was destined to be doubly fortunate. She had not
been with Yu-cun more than a year when she gave birth to a son; and a mere
six months later Yu-cun’s first wife died, whereupon Lucky was promoted to
fill her place and became Her Lady ship. As the proverb says,

Sometimes by chance
A look or a glance
May one’s fortune advance.

*

When Yu-cun received the gift of money from Zhen Shi-yin he had left for
the capital on the day after the festival. He had done well in the
Triennial examination, passing out as a Palace Graduate, and had been
selected for external service. And now he had been promoted to the
magistracy of this district.
But although his intelligence and ability were outstanding, these
qualities were unfortunately offset by a certain cupidity and harshness and
a tendency to use his intelligence in order to outwit his superiors; all of
which caused his fellow-officials to cast envious glances in his direction,
with the result that in less than a year an unfavourable report was sent in
by a senior official stating that his ‘seeming ability was no more than a
mask for cunning and duplicity’ and citing one or two instances in which he
had aided and abetted the peculations of his underlings or allied himself
with powerful local interests in order to frustrate the course of justice.
The imperial eye, lighting on this report, kindled with wrath. Yu-cun’s
instant dismissal was commanded. The officials at the Prefecture, when
notice that he was to be cashiered arrived from the Ministry, rejoiced to a
man. But Yu-cun, in spite of all the shame and chagrin that he felt,
allowed no glimmer of resentment to appear on his face. Indeed, he joked
and smiled as before, and when the business of handing over was completed,
he took his wife and family and the loot he had accumulated during his
years of office and having settled them all safely in his native Hu-zhou,

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[[Category:Hongloumeng]]

Hongloumeng/zh-en1/Chapter 2 - Revision history

Admin: Create ZH-EN1 bilingual page for Chapter 2