Dream of the Red Chamber, Volume 1

The commotion in the other room is Nannie Li scolding Aroma for getting in Bao-yu’s good graces and not getting up to greet her when she came in the room. Nannie Li feels resentful at Aroma for taking her place, and Aroma is confused about Nannie Li’s scolding: She didn’t see Nannie Li because she was under the blankets sweating out her fever. Bao-yu interjects but causes more problems with Nannie Li and Aroma, until both women are crying. Finally, Xi-feng must distract his wet nurse and take her away into another room, and Dai-yu and Bao-chai laugh at Nannie Li’s wild rages. Bao-yu stays to care for Aroma for a bit, and then plays cards with his Grandmother Jia. He leaves early to check on Aroma, who is sleeping. Bored and unsure what to do, Bao-yu ends up spending time with another maid, Musk, and combing her hair. Another maid, Skybright, remarks his act is too romantic for an unmarried pair. She says, “Fancy! Doing her hair already—before you’ve even drunk the marriage cup” (405).

Because it’s the New Year’s holiday month, everyone is home and resting more than usual. Jia Huan, Bao-yu’s half-brother, is home as well, and he decides to go play cards with Bao-chai and her maid Oriole. But the more Jia Huan loses, the more upset he gets, until Bao-chai must smooth over the situation. Despite her best efforts, Jia Huan starts crying, and Bao-yu comes in at that moment and mocks him for not leaving if he isn’t enjoying himself. Jia Huan leaves and cries to his mother, who only scolds him further for spending time with the more prized children. Xi-feng overhears this and calls Jia Huan outside, reminding him that he can play with whoever he likes and giving him some more money to bet with.

Dai-yu was waiting in the hall when Bao-yu and Bao-chai came in, and she immediately became jealous that Bao-yu was spending time with Bao-chai, whom Dai-yu resented for her beauty and pleasant personality. Bao-yu tried to console Dai-yu, but she only sobbed through a few cups of tea. Finally, Bao-yu managed to remind her that she was his longest known friend and closest family, which comforted her slightly.

A visitor named Shi Xiang-yun, the great-niece of Grandmother Jia, then interrupts the game with Bao-yu and Bao-chai. Her arrival also distracts Dai-yu when Xiang-yun speaks to Dai-yu with her characteristic lisp. Dai-yun is in the habit of mocking her speech, but Xiang-yun mocks Dai-yu back, which begins a chase. 

Bao-yu manages to stop the chase between Dai-yu and Xiang-yun by blocking the door. Xiang-yun stays in Dai-yu’s room that night, and the next morning, Bao-yu wakes up early, before Aroma, and spends the morning with the girls. He even does his morning washing in that room, which upsets Aroma, who is accustomed to their morning bathing ritual. This upset prompts Aroma to give Bao-yu the silent treatment, which then prompts Bao-yu to ignore both Aroma and Musk, who he thought were in cahoots with each other, and spend his day alone.

During this time, he reads from Zhuang-zi, which suggests, “Obliterate those ‘sacred laws’ by which the world is governed, and you will find yourself at last able to reason with them” (421). Bao-yu, whose world is governed by the appeal of women, writes his own version about ignoring Dai-yu, Bao-chai, Aroma, Musk, and all the other women in his life. The feud finally resolves the next morning, when Bao-yu finds Aroma in his bed but not under the covers, and she continues to ignore him. He admits he is worried about her, and Aroma gets to the heart of her complaint: “So you feel worried, do you [...] Now perhaps you have some idea what I feel like most of the time!” (425). Aroma forgives Bao-yu, and the two rise to do their washing.

In another part of the castle, Xi-feng’s baby daughter is diagnosed with small pox, and the family prepares a ritual for the Small Pox Goddess, including a red outfit for the baby, and the chastity of the parents during the 12-day incubation period. Jia Lian’s bedroom is moved into the outer office during this time, and after a few days, his sexual desires become overwhelming. He decides to seek out the services of a woman called “The Mattress,” who is known for giving sexual pleasure to all the men at the Ning-guo and Rong mansions. Jia Lian has an intimate encounter with “The Mattress,” calling her his only goddess after she brings up the Small Pox Goddess ritual.

After the 12 days are over and the baby heals, Patience cleans the room and finds a lock of “The Mattress’s” black hair behind the pillow. Jia Lian urges Patience to keep quiet so that Xi-feng doesn’t get jealous, and Patience’s anger at his infidelity causes him to desire her as well. Patience runs away just in time, as Xi-feng interrupts them and wonders at Patience’s strange behavior.