Explore Chapter 31 of 'The Story of the Golden Powder Family' with the original Chinese text, English translation, detailed Chinese vocabulary explanations, and audio of the Chinese original. Listen and improve your reading skills.
After parting with Leng Qingqiu at Falling Flowers Lane that day, Jin Yanxi could not stop thinking about her. He reflected that although Leng Qingqiu resided there, it was no permanent solution. It would be better to find a secluded spot for her to settle down.
Thus, he inquired far and wide. Finally, he located a small courtyard in the western part of the city. Though not spacious, it was exquisitely arranged, with rockery, a pond, and lush flowers and trees. Jin Yanxi spared no expense to renovate the house anew. He purchased numerous furnishings, striving for luxury and comfort.
With everything prepared, Jin Yanxi went to fetch Leng Qingqiu. Seeing the new dwelling so splendid, Leng Qingqiu felt uneasy instead. She was a woman of humble means. Suddenly inhabiting such a grand place left her feeling out of sorts.
Jin Yanxi ignored this, merely assuming she was pleased. He visited daily, sometimes bringing novelties, sometimes delicacies, doing his utmost to curry favor. Leng Qingqiu smiled on the surface, yet harbored sorrow in her heart.
That night, Jin Yanxi could not come due to family affairs. Leng Qingqiu sat alone under the lamp. She recalled her mother's words from the day and pondered her own future. Grief welled up within her. She walked to the bed, lay down leaning on the pillow. Tears fell like broken Pearls.
Outside the window, moonlight flowed like water, spilling onto the stone steps in the courtyard. It made the scene appear even more desolate. Leng Qingqiu wept for a while, then felt an emptiness in her heart, as if she had lost something. She knew she held deep affection for Jin Yanxi. Yet whether this sentiment would bear fruit remained unknown.