Explore Chapter 33 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.
Since that day in the park when he parted from Leng Qingqiu, Yanxi could not put her out of his mind. He began to visit the Leng Residence frequently. Sometimes Leng Qingqiu was home, sometimes she was not. Either way, Yanxi was always left with a tinge of melancholy.
On this day, Yanxi called again and found Leng Qingqiu at home. The two began to chat idly in the study. "How come you've been visiting so often lately?" Leng Qingqiu asked. "Aren't you afraid of what people might say?" Yanxi laughed. "I'm here to see Uncle, and to check on you while I'm at it. What is there to fear?" Leng Qingqiu pressed her lips together in a faint smile and said nothing more.
Noticing a copy of *Dream of the Red Chamber* on her desk, Yanxi remarked, "So you like reading this." "When I have nothing to do, I flip through it," she replied. "I've heard you girl students all seem to enjoy this sort of sentimental fiction." "Not necessarily," she said. "Tastes differ." Seizing the chance, Yanxi began telling her stories about the song halls. Leng Qingqiu listened with an air of half-belief.
Just then, Nanny Han brought in some refreshments-the very pastries Yanxi had sent over on his last visit. "You really are something," Leng Qingqiu said. "Sending all this. There's far too much to eat, and if left uneaten, it will spoil." "Just a small token of my regard, no need for such formality," Yanxi replied. "My mother says you mustn't go to such expense again," she told him. Hearing this, Yanxi felt a pang of displeasure.
Returning home, Yanxi kept thinking about Leng Qingqiu's words. A few days later, he sent over some silk fabric. Leng Qingqiu refused to accept it and had Nanny Han return it. Puzzled, Yanxi asked Song Runqing about it. "That child Qingqiu has a stubborn streak," Song Runqing said. "Don't take it to heart." "My intentions were good," Yanxi insisted. "I know," Song Runqing replied. "I'll talk to her."
To his surprise, Leng Qingqiu grew even more distant. Whenever Yanxi visited, she invented excuses to avoid him. Sullen and unhappy, Yanxi thought to himself that his gifts had become mere pictures of cakes-offers that came to nothing. He also recalled that Xiuzhu had been giving him the cold shoulder lately. A ripple of jealousy stirred within him, mingling with his frustrations.
One day, as Yanxi sat brooding in his study, Jin Rong entered. "Seventh Master, Miss Bai is on the telephone." Yanxi picked up the receiver. "Why haven't you come to see me all these days?" Xiuzhu's voice came from the other end. "I've been busy with trivial matters," he said. "Who are you trying to fool?" she retorted. "I know you've found new friends and forgotten the old." "Don't talk nonsense," Yanxi protested. "Nonsense? You know very well what I mean." With that, she hung up. Yanxi held the receiver, speechless for a long moment.