第21章 出生是人生的起点（13）

　　从上述可见，刘姥姥不仅朴实和明智，而且充满了机智和计谋。当她家多打了粮食，瓜果菜蔬也丰盛时，她们头一起摘下来的，并没想卖，留的尖儿，孝敬贾家，也算表示她们感激的穷心。周瑞家的告诉刘姥姥：“二奶奶说：‘大远的，难为她扛了些东西来，晚了就住一夜，明日再去。’这可不是投上二奶奶的缘了吗？——这也罢了，偏老太太又听见了，问：‘刘姥姥是谁？’二奶奶就回明白了。老太太又说：‘我正想个积古的老人家说话儿！

　　请了来见见。’这可不是想不到的投上缘了？”当刘姥姥见到贾母时，忙上前，陪着笑，拜了几拜，口里说：“请老寿星安。”贾母道：“老亲家，你今年多大年纪了？”刘姥姥忙起身答道：“我今年七十五了。”贾母向众人道：“这么大年纪了，还这么硬朗。比我大好几岁呢！我要到这个年纪，还不知怎么动不得呢！”贾母又笑道：“我才听凤哥儿说，你带了好些瓜菜来，我叫快收拾去了。我正想个地里现结的瓜儿菜儿吃，外头买的不象你们地里的好吃。”刘姥姥笑道：“这是野意儿，不过吃个新鲜。依我们，倒想鱼肉吃，只是吃不起。”贾母又道：“今日既认着了亲，别空空的就去，不嫌我这里，就住一两天再去。我们也有个园子，园子里头也有果子，你明日也尝尝，带些家去，也算是看亲戚一趟。”凤姐儿见贾母喜欢，也忙留道：“我们这里虽不比你们的场院大，空屋子还有两间，你住两天，把你们那里的新闻故事儿，说些给我们老太太听听。”刘姥姥便把乡村中所见所闻的事情说给贾母听，贾母越发得了趣味。

　　From what mentioned above we can see Granny Liu is not only simple， plain and intelligent， but alsofull of resources and calculations. When her family gets in more grain and a good crop of pumpkins， fruit andvegetables， they don’t like to sell their first pickings and keep the best for the Jias to taste. That’s just theirpoor way of showing their gratitude. Mrs Zhou told Granny Liu：“Madam Lian said：‘She’s come all thatway with a load of things； let her spend the night here and go back tomorrow.’Doesn’t that show she’s takena fancy to you？ That’s not all either. The old lady happened to overhear us and asked，‘Who’s this GrannyLiu？’When that was explained by Madam Lian she said，‘I’ve been wanting to have a chat with someexperienced old soul. Ask her over to see me.’Who could have imagined such a stroke of luck？”WhenGranny Liu saw the Lady Dowager， she stepped forward， smiling， and curtseyed to her.“Greetings， Goddessof Long Life！”she cried.“How old are you， venerable kinswoman？”asked the Lady Dowager， Granny Liurose to answer，“Seventy-five.”“So old， yet so hale and hearty！ Why， you’re older than I am by severalyears. If I live to your age， I doubt whether I shall be so spry，”the Lady Dowager went on.“Just nowXifeng told me you’ve brought us a lot of pumpkins and vegetables. I’ve asked to have them cooked at once.

　　I’ve been longing for some freshly picked things of this kind. Those we buy outside aren’t as good as yours，straight from the fields.”“This is rough country fare but at least it’s fresh，”Granny Liu answered.“We’drather eat meat and fish ourselves， only we can’t afford it.”“Now that we relatives have met，”the LadyDowager continued，“you mustn’t leave with nothing to show for your visit. If you don’t dislike our place， dostay for a couple of days. We have a garden too with fruit in it. Tomorrow you must try some and take somehome， to show you’ve visited your relatives here.”Xifeng also pressed Granny Liu to stay， seeing what aliking the old lady had taken to her.“Though our place here isn’t as large as your farm we have a coupleof empty rooms，”she said.“Do stay for a day or two， and tell our old lady some of your village news andstories.”Granny Liu regaled the Lady Dowager with some village gossip which quite delighted her.

　　刘姥姥虽是个乡村野人，却生来得有些见识，况且年纪老了，世情上经历过的，见头一件贾母高兴，第二件这些哥儿姐儿都爱听，便没话也编出些话来讲。当她被嘲弄时，她把一切都当作笑话看待。凤姐儿拉过刘姥姥来，笑道：“让我打扮你。”把一盘子花，横三竖四的插了她一头。贾母和众人笑得了不得。刘姥姥不但不生气，反而也笑道：“我这头也不知修了什么福，今儿这样体面起来！”众人笑道：“你还不拔下来摔到她脸上呢，把你打扮的成了老妖精了！”刘姥姥笑道：“我虽老了，年轻时也风流，爱个花儿粉儿的，今儿索性作个老风流！”贾母在大观园设宴给史湘云还席，刘姥姥挨着贾母一桌。贾母这边说声‘请’，刘姥姥便起身来，高声说道：“老刘，老刘，食量大如牛：吃个老母猪，不抬头！”说完，却鼓着腮帮子，两眼直视，一声不语。众人先还发怔，后来一想，上上下下都一齐哈哈大笑起来。当宴席吃毕，凤姐儿笑道：“你可别多心，才刚不过大家取乐儿。”刘姥姥忙笑道：“咱们哄着老太太开个心儿，有什么恼的！你先嘱咐我，我就明白了，不过大家取笑儿。我要恼，也就不说了。”

　　Granny Liu though a countrywoman is no fool. Besides， being old and experienced she can see howdelighted the old lady is and how eagerly the young people are listening. So when she runs out of gossip shedraws on her imagination. When she is held up to ridicule， she turns everything into ridicule. Xifeng pulledGranny Liu forward and said with a smile：“Let me make you beautiful， granny！”Seizing all the flowers onthe plate， she stuck them this way and that in the old woman’s hair， reducing everyone present to helplesslaughter.“I don’t know what meritorious deed my head’s done to deserve this good fortune，”cackledGranny Liu， instead of having got angry.“What a dash I’m cutting today！”“Why don’t you pull themout and throw them in her face？”gasped the others.“She’s got you up to look a real old vampire.”“I’mold now， but when I was young I was flighty too and fond of flowers，”chuckled Granny Liu.“So It’s right Ishould be an old flibbertigibbet today.”The Lady Dowager gave a feast in Grand View Garden to repay ShiXingyun’s hospitality. Granny Liu sat at the table next to the Lady Dowager’s. When the Lady Dowager urgedher to make a start， Granny Liu stood up and declaimed at the top of her voice：

　　“Old woman Liu， I vow，Eats more than any cow，And down she settles now，To gobble an enormous sow.”

　　Then she dried up abruptly， puffing out her cheeks and staring down at her bowl. The others had beenstaggered at first but now everyone， high and low， started roaring with laughter. When presently the mealended， Xifeng said with a smile to Granny Liu：“You mustn’t take offence. We were only having fun justnow.”“What a thing to say，”Granny Liu laughed.“We were trying to amuse the old lady， why shouldI take offence？ When you tipped me off， I knew it was all in fun. If I’d been annoyed I would have kept mymouth shut.”

　　晚饭后，刘姥姥带着板儿来见凤姐，说：“明日一早定要回家去了。虽然住了两三天，日子却不多，把古往今来没见过的，没吃过的，没听见的，都经验过了。难得老太太和姑奶奶并那些小姐们，连各房里的姑娘们，都这样怜贫惜老，照看我。我这一回去，没别的报答，惟有请些高香，天天给你们念佛，保佑你们长命百岁的，就算我的心了。”凤姐儿笑道：“到底是你们有年纪的经历的多。我们大姐儿时常肯病，也不知是什么原故。”刘姥姥道：“这也有的。富贵人家养的孩子都娇嫩，自然禁不得一些儿委屈。再他小人儿家，过于尊贵了，也禁不起。以后姑奶奶倒少疼她些就好了。”凤姐儿道：“也是有的。——我想起来，她还没个名字，你就给她起个名字，借借你的寿；二则你们是庄家人，不怕你恼，到底贫苦些，你们贫苦人起个名字，只怕压的住。”刘姥姥听说，便想了一想，笑道：“不知她是几时养的？”凤姐儿道：“正是养的日子不好呢：可巧是七月初七日。”刘姥姥忙笑道：

　　“这个正好，就叫做巧姐儿好。这个叫做‘以毒攻毒，以火攻火’的法子。姑奶奶定依我这名字，必然长命百岁。日后大了，各人成家立业，或一时有不遂心的事，必然遇难成祥，逢凶化吉，都从这‘巧’字儿来。”凤姐儿听了，自是欢喜，忙谢道：“只保佑她应了你的话就好了。”说着，叫平儿来吩咐道：“明儿咱们有事，恐怕不得闲儿；你这会子闲着，把送姥姥的东西打点了，她明儿一早就好走的便宜了。”平儿说：“姥姥过这边瞧瞧。”她一一拿给刘姥姥瞧着，又说道：“这是昨日你要的青纱一匹，奶奶另外送你一个实地月白纱做里子。这是两个茧绸，做袄儿裙子都好。这包袱里是两匹绸子，年下做件衣裳穿。这是一盒子各样内造小饽饽儿，也有你吃过的，也有没吃过的，拿去摆碟子请人，比买的强些。这两条口袋是你昨日装果子的，如今这一个里头装了两斗御田粳米，熬粥是难得的；这一条里头是园子里的果子和各样干果子。这一包是八两银子。——这都是我们奶奶的。这两包每包五十两，共是一百两，是太太给的，叫你拿去，或者做个小本买卖，或者置几亩地，以后再别求亲靠友的。”说着又悄悄笑道，“这两件袄儿和两条裙子，还有四块包头，一包绒线，可是我送姥姥的。那衣裳虽是旧的，我也没大很穿，你要弃嫌，我就不敢说了。”

　　After the evening meal Granny Liu took Ban’er to see Xifeng.“I must go home first thingtomorrow，”she announced.“I’ve not stayed here long， only two or three days， yet I’ve seen things， eatenthings and heard tell of things I never even knew existed. The old lady and you， madam， as well as theyoung ladies and the girls in the different apartments， have all been kindness itself to a poor old woman.

　　I’ve no way to show my gratitude when I get back except by burning incense every day and prayinghard to Buddha to grant that all of you live to be a hundred.”“Yes， after all， it’s the old who are themost experienced.”Observed Xifeng with a smile.“Can you tell me， granny， why our Dajier is alwaysailing？”“It’s natural enough，”replied Granny Liu.“The children of wealthy families are too delicate tostand any rough handling. Being too pampered isn’t good for kids either. She’ll do better， madam， if you don’tspoil her too much.”“I think you’re right，”agreed Xifeng.“By the way， she has no name yet. You giveher one so that she can share your good fortune and live as long as you. Besides—I hope you won’t mind mysaying this—you country fold aren’t so well off， and a name given by someone poor like you should act asa counterbalance.”“When was she born？”asked Granny Liu after some thought.“That’s the trouble：

　　the seventh of the seventh month.”“Why， that’s good！ Call her Qiao Jier then. This is what is knownas‘fighting poison with poison and fire with fire.’If you agree to this name， madam， she’s sure to live toa ripe old age. And when she grows up and has her own family， if anything untoward happens， her bad luckwill turn into good all because of this‘happy coincidence’in her name.”Xifeng was naturally pleased andsaid gratefully，“I hope it will turn out for her as you say.”She called Ping’er then and told her，“Tomorrowwe’ll most likely be busy. Sort out our presents for granny now that you’re free， so that she can leave as earlyas suits her tomorrow.”“Come and have a look， granny.”Ping’er said. She picked them up one by one toshow them to granny.“This is the green gauze you admired yesterday. And here is some pale grey gauze fromour mistress for a lining. These two rolls of raw silk would do well for tunics or skirts， and the two lengths ofsilk in this wrapping will make clothes for New Year. Here’s a hamper of all sorts of cakes from the Imperialkitchen； some you’ve tasted， others you haven’t； they’re better to offer to visitors than any you can buy outside.

　　One of these two sacks you brought vegetables in has two pecks of rice in it from the Imperial fields， whichmakes an excellent porridge； the other is full of fruit and nuts from our Garden. In this packet are eight taelsof silver. All these are presents from our mistress. These two packets of fifty taels each， a hundred in all， area present from Lady Wang who wants you to start a small business or buy some land with it， so that in futureyou don’t have to appeal to friends for help.”Then， smiling， she said in a low voice，“These two tunics andthis skirt， four headscarves and packet of embroidery silks are from me， granny. The clothes may not be new，but they haven’t been worn much. Still， if you turn up your nose at them， I shan’t complain.”

　　刘姥姥见无事，方上来和贾母告辞。贾母说：“闲了再来。”又命鸳鸯来，“好生打发刘姥姥出去。”刘姥姥道了谢，又作辞，方同鸳鸯出来。到了下房，鸳鸯指炕上一个包袱说道：“这是老太太的几件衣裳，都是往年间生日节下众人孝敬的，却是一次也没穿过的，昨日叫我拿出两套来送你带了去。这盒子里头是你要的面果子。这包儿里头是你前儿说的药。

　　这是两个荷包，带着玩罢。前儿我叫你洗澡，换的衣裳是我的，你不弃嫌，我还有几件也送你罢。”刘姥姥又忙道谢。鸳鸯果然又拿出几件来，给她包好。刘姥姥又要到园中辞谢宝玉和众姊妹王夫人等去，鸳鸯道：“不用去了。他们这会子也不见人，回来我替你说罢。闲了再来。”又命了一个老婆子，吩咐她：“二门上叫两个小厮来，帮着姥姥拿了东西送去。”

　　婆子答应了。又和刘姥姥到了凤姐儿那边，一并拿了东西，在角门上命小厮们搬出去，直送刘姥姥上车去了。

　　When Granny Liu knew that the old lady was free， she came to say goodbye. The Lady Dowager urgedher to come again and told Yuan Yang：“See Granny Liu out.”Then with final thanks Granny Liu took herleave and withdrew with Yuan Yang to the maid’s room. Yuan Yang pointed at a bundle on the kang.“Thoseare two sets of clothes given to the old lady on previous birthdays，”she said.“But she’s never once put themon. Yesterday she told me to choose two sets for you to take back. In this hamper are the pastries you askedfor. In this packet are the medicines. Here are two embroidered pouches you can wear for fun. Those clothesyou changed into when I asked you to have a bath the other day were mine. If they’re any use to you keepthem， and here are a few others.”As Granny Liu hastily thanked her， she produced two more sets of clothingand wrapped them up for her. The old woman wanted to go to the Garden to say goodbye to Baoyu， the youngladies and Lady Wang， but Yuan Yang prevented her.“There’s no need. They don’t see people at this hour.

　　I’ll tell them later. You must come again when you’ve time.”An old serving-woman was dispatched to geta boy from the inner gate to help Granny Liu with her things. Then they went to Xifeng’s apartments to fetchthe gifts there， which the page carried out through the side gate and loaded on to the carriage they had hired.

　　Finally， the old serving-woman escorted Granny Liu to the carriage and saw her off.

　　刘姥姥善良、随和，是个知恩图报的人。当她知道贾母去世了，就到贾府去。凤姐见了，问：“近来的日子还过的么？”刘姥姥千恩万谢的说道：“我们若不仗着姑奶奶，”说着，指着青儿说：“她的老子娘都要饿死了。如今虽说是庄家人苦，家里也挣了好几亩地，又打了一眼井，种些菜蔬瓜果。一年卖的钱也不少，尽够他们嚼吃的了。这两年，姑奶奶还时常给些衣服布匹，在我们村里算过得的了。阿弥陀佛！前日他老子进城，听见姑奶奶这里动了家。我就几乎唬杀了，亏得又有人说，不是这里，我才放心。后来又听见说这里老爷升了，我又喜欢，就要来道喜，为的是满地的庄稼，来不得。昨日又听见说老太太没有了。我在地里打豆子，听见了这话，唬的连豆子都拿不起来了，就在地里狠狠的哭了一大场。我给女婿说：‘我也顾不得你们了！不管真话谎话，我是要进城瞧瞧去的！’我女儿女婿也不是没良心的，听见了哭了一会子。今儿天没亮，就赶着我进城来了。”刘姥姥看着凤姐骨瘦如柴，神情恍惚，心里也就悲惨起来，说：“我们屯乡里的人，不会病的，若一病了，就要求神许愿，从不知道吃药。我想姑奶奶的病别是撞着什么了罢？”那里知道这句话倒合了凤姐的意。凤姐叫巧姐儿到她们面前，说：“你见过了姥姥了没有？你的名字还是她起的呢，就和干妈一样。你给她请个安。”又求刘姥姥：“求你替我祷告。要用供献的银钱，我有。”

　　便在手腕上退下一只金镯子来交给她。刘姥姥道：“姑奶奶，不用那个。我们村庄人家许了愿，好了，花上几百钱就是了，那用这些？就是我替姑奶奶求去，也是许愿，等姑奶奶好了，要花什么，自己去花罢。”凤姐明知刘姥姥一片好心，不好勉强，只得留下，说：

　　“姥姥，我的命交给你了！我的巧姐儿也是千灾百病的，也交给你了。”刘姥姥欣然答应，便说：“这么着，我看天气尚早，还赶的出城去，我就去了。明儿姑奶奶好了，再请还愿去。”

　　Granny Liu is kind-hearted and amiable， a woman who knows that she should reciprocate for the goodthings which have been done for her. When she heard about the Lady Dowager’s death， she came to the JiaMansions. Xifeng asked Granny Liu：“How are you making out these days？”Her heart brimming over withgratitude Granny Liu answered，“If not for you.”She pointed at her grand-daughter Qing’er then wenton，“Her dad and mum would have starved. Now， though life on a farm is hard， we’ve bought quite a few muof land and sunk a well. We grow vegetables and fruit too， and make enough from them to feed ourselves. Thelast couple of years， besides， you’ve given us clothes and material from time to time so that in our village wecount as quite well-off. Amida Buddha！ The other day when her dad came to town and heard that your familyhere had been raided， I nearly died of fright！ Luckily others told me it wasn’t this house， and that set my mindat rest. We learned later that the master had been promoted， and I was so pleased I wanted to come to offercongratulations， but what with all the field work I couldn’t get away. Then yesterday we heard that the old ladyhad passed away. I was getting in beans when they brought me word， and it shocked me too much to go on. Ibroke down there in the field and cried my heart out！ I told my son-in-law，‘I shall have to leave you to yourown devices. Whether it’s true or not， I must go to town to have a look.’My daughter and son-in-law aren’tlacking in gratitude either. They both cried over the news， and this morning before dawn they sped me onmy way.”Granny Liu was grieved to see how wasted Xifeng had become， and how unclear in her mind. Shesaid：“We villagers don’t fall ill. When we feel poorly we just pray and make pledges to the gods—we nevertake medicine. I dare say， madam， this illness of yours was brought on by evil spirits.”This coincided withXifeng’s own view. Xifeng asked Qiaojie to her and said：“Have you greeted granny？ She’s the one who gaveyou your name， so she’s your godmother in a way. You should pay your respects to her.”She also beggedGranny Liu：“Please offer prayers for me！ If you need money for a sacrifice， I have some.”She slipped off agolden bracelet and held it out to her. Granny Liu said：“There’s no call for this， madam. When we villagersrecover after making pledges， we just spend a few hundred coppers. What need is there for all this？ I shallpray for you and make some pledge， and once you’re better you can spend as much as you like.”Aware thatshe was in earnest， Xifeng could not insist.“Granny， my life is in your hands！”she said：“And my littleQiaojie is always ailing too； I entrust her to you as well.”Granny Liu assented readily and proposed.“In thiscase， as it’s still early， I’ll go back now. When you recover， madam， you can go to thank the gods.”

　　在刘姥姥回家为凤姐母女祷告期间，凤姐死了，贾琏又去见他病危的父亲去了。正当巧姐要被坏叔贾环狠舅王仁奸兄贾芸骗卖藩王时，已年过九十的刘姥姥又来到贾府，平儿便将巧姐装做青儿模样，平儿自己只当送人，眼错不见，也跨上车一同随刘姥姥回家去了，躲过了这场灾难。正是：留余庆，留余庆，忽遇恩人；幸娘亲，幸娘亲，积得阴功。劝人生，济困扶穷。休似俺那爱银钱、忘骨肉的狠舅奸兄！正是乘除加减，上有苍穹。

　　While Granny Liu has gone home to offer prayers for Xifeng and her daughter Qiaojie， Xifeng died andJia Lian has gone to see his father who is dying of consumption. It’s just at the critical moment when Qiaojieis going to be cheated and sold to a prince in a border province by her bad uncle Jia Huan， cruel-hearteduncle Wang Ren and evil elder brother Jia Yun， Granny Liu who’s over 90 years old comes again to the JiasMansions， Ping’er dressing Qiaojie up to look like Qing’er， she herself， pretending to be seeing off GrannyLiu， slipping into the carriage too when no one is looking； so they have left the mansion for Granny Liu’s homeand averted the catastrophe. Truly：

　　Thanks to one small act of kindnessShe meets by chance a grateful friend；Fortunate that her motherHas done some unnoticed good.

　　Men should rescue the distressed and aid the poor，Be not like her heartless uncle or treacherous cousinWho for love of money forget their own flesh and blood.

　　Truly， rewards and punishmentsAre meted out by Heaven.

　　巧姐：巧姐是王熙凤和贾琏的女儿。当刘姥姥第二次拜访荣国府时，熙凤问她：“我们大姐儿时常肯病，也不知是什么原故。”刘姥姥道：“这也是有的。富贵人家养的孩子都娇嫩，自然禁不得一些儿委屈。再他小人儿家，过于尊贵了，也禁不起。以后姑奶奶倒少疼他些就好了。”凤姐儿道：“也是有的。——我想起来，他还没个名字，你就给他起个名字，借借你的寿；二则你们是庄稼人，不怕你恼，到底贫苦些，你们贫苦人起个名字，只怕压的住。”刘姥姥听说，便想了一想，笑道：“不知他是几时养的？”凤姐儿道：“正是养的日子不好呢：可巧是七月初七日？”刘姥姥忙笑道：“这个正好，就叫做巧姐儿好。这个叫做‘以毒攻毒，以火攻火’的法子。姑奶奶定依我这名字，必然长命百岁。日后大了，各人成家立业，或一时有不遂心事，必然遇难成祥，逢凶化吉，都从这‘巧’字儿来。”

　　Qiaojie： Qiaojie is the daughter of Wang Xifeng and Jia Lian. When Granny Liu paid her second visitto the Rong Mansion， Xifeng asked her，“Can you tell me， granny， why our Dajie is always ailing？”“It’snatural enough. The children of wealthy families are too delicate to stand any rough handling. Being toopampered isn’t good for kids either. She’ll do better， madam， if you don’t spoil her too much.”“I thinkyou’re right，”agreed Xifeng.“By the way， she has no name yet. You give her one so that she can shareyour good fortune and live as long as you. Besides—I hope you won’t mind my saying this—you country folkaren’t so well off， and a name given by someone poor like you should act as a counterbalance.”“Whenwas she born？”asked Granny Liu after some thought.“That’s the trouble： the seventh of the seventhmonth.”“Why， that’s good！ Call her Qiaojie then. This is what is known as‘fighting poison with poisonand fire with fire.’If you agree to this name， madam， she’s sure to live to a ripe old age. And when she growsup and has her own family， if anything untoward happens， her bad luck will turn into good all because ofthis‘happy coincidence’in her name.”

　　每年十一月初一日，老太太那里必是个老规矩，要办“消寒会”，齐打伙儿坐下，喝酒说笑。在这一天上午，巧姐给老太太请了安。贾母笑着道：“好孩子！我一早就起来了。

　　等他们总不来，只有你二叔叔来了。”那奶妈子便说：“姑娘，给叔叔请安。”巧姐便请了安。宝玉也问了一声“妞妞好？”巧姐道：“我妈妈说，跟着李妈认了几年字，不知道我认得不认得……要请二叔叔得空儿的时候给我理理。”宝玉问她：“你认了多少字了？”巧姐儿道：“认了三千多字。念了一本《女孝经》，半个月头里又上了《列女传》。”贾母道：

　　“女孩儿家认得字也好，只是女工针黹倒是要紧的。”巧姐道：“我也跟着刘妈妈学着做呢。什么扎花儿咧，拉锁子咧，我虽弄不好，却也学着会做几针儿。”宝玉也评述道：“那字是自然认得的，不用再理了。”巧姐道：“我还听见我妈妈说：我们家的小红，头里是二叔叔那里的，我妈妈要了来，还没有补上人呢。我妈妈想着要把什么柳家的五儿补上，不知二叔叔要不要。”宝玉听了更喜欢，笑着道：“你听你妈妈的话！要补谁就补谁罢咧，又问什么要不要呢！”因又向贾母笑道：“我瞧大妞妞这个小模样儿，又有这个聪明儿，只怕将来比凤姐姐还强呢，又比他认的字。”

　　It used to be the Lady Dowager’s rule every year to hold a“cold 罥 dispelling party”on the first ofthe eleventh month， getting everybody together to drink and have fun. On that day morning Qiaojie paidher respects to the old lady.“Good child！”said the Lady Dowager with a fond smile.“I got up early andall this time I’ve been waiting， but so far only your Uncle Bao has come.”“Pay your respects to youruncle， miss，”prompted the nurse. Qiaojie curtseyed to Baoyu， who returned her greeting.“Mama saysNanny Li has been teaching me to read for several years，”said Qiaojie，“but she doubts if I really knowmany characters... She wants you to test me， uncle， when you have time.”“How many characters do youknow？”asked Baoyu.“More than three thousand.”replied Qiaojie.“I’ve read the Book of Filial Women，and a fortnight ago I started on the Lives of Chaste Martyrs.”“It’s good when girls can read，”put inthe Lady Dowager.“But needlework is more important for them.”“I’m learning that too from NannyLiu，”said Qiaojie“Applique work， chain stitch and so on. I’m not much good at it， but I’m learning somedifferent stitches.”“As you obviously know how to read，”observed Baoyu，“there’s no need to test youon that.”Qiaojie said：“I heard mama say too that our maid Xiaohong used to work for you， Uncle Bao； andafter mama took her she’s never sent you another girl instead. Now mama wants to send you one called Wu’erfrom the Liu family， but she doesn’t know whether you’ll have her or not.”“Just listen to her！”exclaimedBaoyu in delight.“Your mother can send anyone she likes. Why ask me if I’ll have her？”He turned to saylaughingly to his grandmother，”“Judging by my niece’s looks and intelligence， she should outdo evenCousin Xifeng in future. Especially as she can read as well.”

　　刘姥姥第三次拜访荣国府，是因她听说贾母逝世了。当她看着凤姐骨瘦如柴，神情恍惚，心里也就悲惨起来，说：“我们屯乡里的人，不会病的，若一病了，就要求神许愿，从不知道吃药。我想姑奶奶的病别是撞着什么了罢？”哪里知道这句话倒合了凤姐的心意，挣扎着说：“姥姥，求你替我祷告。要用供献的银钱，我有。”便在手腕上退下一只金镯子来交她。刘姥姥道：“姑奶奶，不用那个。我们村庄人家许了愿，好了，花上几百钱就是了，那用这些？就是我替姑奶奶求去，也是许愿，等姑奶奶好了，要花什么，自己去花罢。”凤姐明知刘姥姥一片好心，不好勉强，只得留下，说：“姥姥，我的命交给你了！我的巧姐儿也是千灾百病的，也交给你了！”刘姥姥欣然答应，便说：“这么着，我看天气尚早，还赶的出城去，我就去了。明儿姑奶奶好了，再请还愿去”。

　　Granny Liu went to pay her third visit to the Rong Mansion， for she heard that the Lady Dowager hadpassed away. When she saw how wasted Xifeng had become and how unclear in her mind， Granny Liu wasgrieved to say，“We villagers don’t fall ill. When we feel poorly we just pray and make pledges to the gods— we never take medicine. I daresay， madam， this illness of yours was brought on by evil spirits.”Thiscoincided with Xifeng’s own view.“Granny，”she said with an effort.“Please offer prayers for me！ If youneed money for a sacrifice， I have some.”She slipped off a golden bracelet and held it out to her.“There’sno call for this， madam，”explained Granny Liu.“When we villagers recover after making pledges， we justspend a few hundred coppers. What need is there for all this？ I shall pray for you and make some pledge，and once you’re better you can spend as much as you like.”Aware that she was in earnest， Xifeng could notinsist.“Granny， my life is in your hands！”she said.“And my little Qiaojie is always ailing too； I entrust herto you as well.”Granny Liu assented readily and proposed，“In this case， as it’s still early， I’ll go back now.

　　When you recover， madam， you can go to thank the gods.”

　　正当巧姐要被坏心叔叔贾环、狼心舅舅王仁、邪恶长兄贾芸骗卖给藩王时，刘姥姥又来贾府，平儿便将巧姐装做青儿模样，她自己只当送人，眼错不见，也跨上车一同随刘姥姥回家去了。那庄上也有几家富户，知道刘姥姥家来了贾府姑娘，谁不来瞧，都道是天上神仙，也有送菜果的，也有送野味的，倒也热闹。内中有个极富的人家姓周，家财巨万，良田千顷；只有一子，生得文雅清秀，年纪十四岁，他父母延师读书，新近科试，中了秀才。那日他母亲看见巧姐，心里羡慕，自想：“我是庄家人家，那里配得起这样世家小姐？”只顾呆想。刘姥姥早看出她的心事来，便说：“你的心事我知道了，我给你们做个媒罢。”刘姥姥惦记着贾府，叫板儿进城打听。那日恰好到宁荣街，只见有好些车轿在那里，板儿便在邻近打听。说是“宁荣两府复了官，赏还抄的家产，如今府里又要起来了”。板儿赶忙回去告诉他外祖母。刘姥姥听了得意，便叫人赶了两辆车，请巧姐平儿上车。巧姐等在刘姥姥家住熟了，反是依依不舍，更有青儿哭着，恨不能留下。刘姥姥见她不忍相别，便叫青儿跟了进城，一径直奔荣府而来。

　　It was just at the critical moment when Qiaojie was going to be cheated and sold to a prince in a borderprovince by her bad uncle Jia Huan， cruel 罥 hearted uncle Wang Ren and evil elder brother Jia Yun，Granny Liu came again to the Rong Mansion； Ping’er dressed Qiaojie up to look like Qing’er， she herself，pretending to be seeing off Granny Liu， slipped into the carriage too when no one was looking； and so theyleft the mansion for Granny Liu’s home. When the few well-to-do families in the village heard that a younglady from the Jia Mansion was staying with Granny Liu， they flocked to see her and thought her a goddesscome down to earth. Some sent presents of vegetables and fruit， others of game， making quite a commotion.

　　The richest family among them， named Zhou， were millionaires owning a vast estate of good land. Their onlyson， a handsome， intelligent lad of fourteen for whom his parents had procured a tutor， had just passed thecounty examination. When his mother saw Qiaojie she thought enviously，“Country folk like us aren’t goodenough for such a young lady from a noble house.”Granny Liu guessed what she was thinking.“I knowwhat’s in you mind，”she said.“Let me propose the match.”Concerned to know how the Jia family wasfaring， Granny Liu sent Ban’er to town to make inquiries. As it happened， he found Rongning Street linedwith carriages and sedan-chairs， and people in the neighbourhood informed him，“The heads of the Ningand Rong Mansions are getting back their official posts and their confiscated property. They’re going up in theworld again.”Ban’er hurried back to tell his grandmother. Granny Liu， gratified to hear this， had two cartsprepared for them and urged Qiaojie to mount one. But by now she felt so at home here that she was reluctantto leave， while Qing’er burst into tears， unwilling to part with her. Seeing this， Granny Liu told Qing’er to gowith them， and together they drove straight back to the Rong Mansion.

　　如此遇巧，当巧姐和刘姥姥、平儿安然无恙地回来时，贾琏已从他父亲流放地回家来了。刘姥姥告诉贾琏有关巧姐的一切事情。然后贾琏趁便回报贾政说：“巧姐亲事，父亲太太都愿意给周家为媳。”贾政昨晚也知巧姐的始末，便说：“大老爷大太太作主就是了。

　　莫说村居不好，只要人家清白，孩子肯念书，能够上进。朝里那些官，难道都是城里的人么？”贾琏答应了“是”。然后，他就打发请了刘姥姥来，应了这门亲事。正是：势败休云贵，家亡莫论亲，偶因济村妇，巧得遇恩人。

　　It so happened that Jia Lian had come back from his father’s place of exile when Qiaojie was backsafe and sound with Granny Liu and Ping’er. Granny Liu told Jia Lian everything about Qiaojie. Then JiaLian reported to Jia Zheng：“My parents are willing to marry Qiaojie to the Zhou family.”Jia Zheng， whohad heard the previous night of all that had happened to her， said，“That’s for the Elder Master and ElderMistress to decide. We shouldn’t despise country people， providing they are honest folk and their son isstudious and seems promising. Not all the officials at court are city bred， are they？”“No， sir，”agreed JiaLian. Then he sent for Granny Liu to tell her the match was agreed on. Truly：

　　When fortune frowns， nobility means nothing；When a house is ruined， kinsmen turn unkind.

　　Because of help given by chance to Granny Liu，In time of need she is lucky a friend to find.