第三十六回 山馆留宾归途行不得 月窗寻梦旅舍夜如何 (Chapter 36: The Mountain Lodge Detains Guests, the Homeward Road Impassable; the Moonlit Window Seeks Dreams, the Inn at Night How Desolate?)

The mountain path looked close, but walking it proved otherwise. It took half an hour to finally reach the entrance of the restaurant. The waiter, seeing Yanxi step out of the automobile, smiled and said, "So you've come, sir."

"Yes, I'm here," said Yanxi. "Shall I leave the car right at your door?" The waiter replied, "It's safe enough here, but I'm afraid other automobiles might come and go and bump into yours. Better drive it to the empty field in our back garden." Yanxi agreed, "Fine, lead the way."

So the waiter led the way, and Yanxi followed, driving the automobile to the empty field. Yanxi saw that the field covered over ten acres, a stretch of grassland with a sparse grove at the northeast corner. Beyond the grove, a small stream flowed gently, creating quite a charming scene. The waiter guided Yanxi to a thatched pavilion where a table was already set. Yanxi asked, "Is this the pavilion?" The waiter said, "Though this thatched pavilion isn't fancy, it's full of rustic charm. It's by the riverbank with a view of the Western Hills. Isn't it much better than dining indoors?"

Yanxi laughed, "You're absolutely right. I'll eat here on the pavilion." So Yanxi and Leng Qingqiu sat opposite each other. The waiter brought tea. Yanxi said to Leng Qingqiu, "What do you think of this place?" Leng Qingqiu smiled, "It's quite nice, even more serene than Falling Flowers Lane. After all, Falling Flowers Lane is still in the city, but here it's truly the mountain wilderness."

Yanxi chuckled, "So, isn't this place I found wonderful? We can come here often for meals. After eating, we can take a stroll in these wild hills. Look, this expanse of grassland before us is utterly delightful."

Leng Qingqiu followed where he pointed and indeed saw a stretch of lush green grassland extending far to the edge of distant woods. Beyond the woods, a winding stream encircled most of the grassland. On the other side of the stream were undulating hills. Though it was late autumn and leaves had fallen, the purple-tinged mountain hues, bathed in the setting sun, looked exceptionally beautiful.

As Leng Qingqiu gazed entranced, the waiter brought the dishes. Yanxi said, "Let's eat first, then enjoy the scenery slowly." Leng Qingqiu sat down, and they chatted while dining. Yanxi remarked, "It would be fun to organize a poetry club here. Imagine building three small thatched cottages, keeping a few cranes, feeding a deer, planting some bamboo. We could admire flowers in spring, appreciate the moon in autumn, and tread snow in winter to seek plum blossoms-every season offering its own joys."

Leng Qingqiu laughed, "You certainly dream grandly, but where would we find the time?" Yanxi replied, "Time? I have nothing to do now, unlike you students, busy with classes all day."

Leng Qingqiu said, "It's not that you have nothing to do. You just refuse to do anything." Yanxi admitted, "That's true. Even if I had nothing, I wouldn't bother. Think about it-why should one rush about in life? I've realized now: life's few decades pass in a blink. Why not seize the day and enjoy ourselves?"

Hearing this, Leng Qingqiu couldn't help but smile slightly, saying nothing. Yanxi asked, "What are you smiling at?" Leng Qingqiu replied, "I smile because you're so young, yet you sound so world-weary." Yanxi said, "This isn't a new sentiment. I've always felt life lacks meaning."

Leng Qingqiu countered, "If life has no meaning, why do you seek pleasure everywhere?" Yanxi explained, "I seek pleasure precisely because life lacks meaning. If life had meaning, what need would I have to seek pleasure?"

Leng Qingqiu nodded, "There's a philosophical touch to that." After finishing the meal, they remained seated, drinking tea. Yanxi said, "Let's sit here a while. Look, the sun is about to set. The evening scene must be even more beautiful."

Leng Qingqiu said, "Sitting a while is fine, but I'm afraid if we return late, my mother will worry." Yanxi assured her, "No need to worry. I have the automobile here. I'll drive you back in no time."

So they sat chatting idly, watching as the sun sank behind the Western Hills. The sky's edge blushed with red clouds, reflecting on the river and turning it purple. Yanxi suggested, "This scenery is superb. Let's go to the riverbank for a closer look."

Leng Qingqiu also found the evening scene captivating and walked with Yanxi to the river. They saw the stream calm and waveless, the evening glow's reflection dyeing the water red. A few weeping willows by the bank had lost most of their leaves. Their sparse branches swayed gently in the breeze, casting a picturesque image on the water.

Yanxi sighed, "This place is truly wonderful. I'm reluctant to leave." Leng Qingqiu urged, "It's getting late. Let's go back." Yanxi protested, "What's the hurry? Let's wait a bit longer."

Leng Qingqiu insisted, "We can't wait any longer. If we do, it'll be dark." Yanxi said, "Even if it gets dark, it doesn't matter. I have headlights on the car."

Leng Qingqiu said, "It's not about headlights. The truth is, my mother is waiting anxiously at home." Seeing Leng Qingqiu's determination, Yanxi reluctantly agreed, "Well then, let's go."

So they returned to the thatched pavilion. Yanxi paid the bill, and they walked out together, getting into the automobile. Yanxi told the chauffeur, "Drive back slowly. No rush."

The chauffeur acknowledged and started driving slowly. Yanxi and Leng Qingqiu sat side by side in the automobile, admiring the evening scenery and chatting. Yanxi asked, "Did you have a good time today?"

"Very much," said Leng Qingqiu. Yanxi proposed, "Let's come again next week, shall we?" Leng Qingqiu replied, "We'll see about next week."

Yanxi pressed, "Why 'we'll see'?" Leng Qingqiu said, "I might have something on next week." Yanxi asked, "What do you have?" Leng Qingqiu answered, "How should I know now?"

Yanxi declared, "No matter what, we must come next week." Leng Qingqiu remained silent, merely smiling faintly. The automobile drove very slowly, not entering Xizhimen Gate until dusk had deepened into darkness.

Yanxi drove Leng Qingqiu all the way to the entrance of Falling Flowers Lane. Leng Qingqiu said, "Please let me off here. Don't drive to the door." Yanxi asked, "Why not?"

Leng Qingqiu explained, "If people see, it would be embarrassing." Yanxi said, "What does it matter?" Leng Qingqiu insisted, "In any case, it's not proper."

Seeing her firm refusal, Yanxi had no choice but to stop the car at the lane entrance and let Leng Qingqiu out. Leng Qingqiu stepped down and bid Yanxi "goodbye," then turned and walked into the alley. Yanxi sat in the automobile, watching Leng Qingqiu's receding figure until she disappeared from sight. He sighed and told the chauffeur to drive home.

When Yanxi returned home, dinner was being served. Mrs. Jin, Aunt Cui, Peifang, Yufen, Huichang, Daozhi, Minzhi, and Runzhi were all present. Yanxi washed up and joined the meal. Mrs. Jin asked, "Where have you been, coming back so late?"

Yanxi said, "I went to a friend's house." Mrs. Jin inquired, "Which friend?" Yanxi replied, "Someone named Leng."

Mrs. Jin said, "Named Leng? A newly made friend?" Yanxi confirmed, "Yes, newly made." Mrs. Jin advised, "You should avoid mingling with such irrelevant people in the future."

Yanxi retorted, "How are they irrelevant?" Mrs. Jin said, "You don't know their background. How can you tell if they're good or bad?" Yanxi asserted, "I can naturally discern good from bad."

Mrs. Jin, displeased by Yanxi's defiance, said nothing more. After dinner, Yanxi returned to his room, his thoughts lingering on Leng Qingqiu. He felt the day had been quite enjoyable. He resolved to invite her out again next week.

That night, Yanxi lay in bed, tossing and turning, unable to sleep. He recalled Leng Qingqiu's every word and smile, finding all of them delightful. He thought, "If only I could be with her often, that would be true happiness."

At this thought, he suddenly remembered Leng Qingqiu's words, "We'll see about next week." A doubt crept into his heart. He wondered, "Why wouldn't she commit to next week? Does she not want to be with me often?"

This thought made him restless again. He pondered until midnight before finally drifting into a fitful sleep. Upon waking, the sun already flooded his window. Yanxi got up, washed, and thought, "I must go find her today. I'll ask her plainly if she's willing to be friends with me."

With this resolve, he changed into fresh clothing and hurried to Falling Flowers Lane. At the gate of Leng Residence, he found the double doors tightly shut, quiet and deserted. Yanxi lingered outside for a while, thinking, "Perhaps she hasn't risen yet. I'll come back later."

So he returned home, read in his study for a bit, but couldn't settle his mind. He went out again. At Leng Residence's gate, the door remained closed. Yanxi wondered, "Could she have gone out?"

Just as he puzzled, he saw Nanny Han approaching from the lane entrance, carrying a vegetable basket. Yanxi hurried to meet her and asked, "Nanny Han, is your young lady at home?"

Nanny Han said, "Master Jin, you've come. Our young lady has gone to class." Yanxi asked, "Gone to class? Which school?"

Nanny Han replied, "The same school as before." Yanxi inquired, "When will she return?" Nanny Han said, "Not until four or five in the afternoon."

Hearing this, Yanxi was greatly disappointed and walked back dejectedly. He thought, "Since she's in class, I'll have to come back in the afternoon."

At four in the afternoon, Yanxi went again to Leng Residence's gate, but the door was still closed. After waiting a while with no sign of Leng Qingqiu, he thought, "Maybe she's delayed at school. I'll go wait at the school entrance."

With this idea, he hailed a rickshaw and rode to Leng Qingqiu's school gate. There, he saw many female students chatting and laughing as they exited. Yanxi widened his eyes, scanning each one, but even after the crowd dispersed, Leng Qingqiu did not appear.

Yanxi thought, "Could she have skipped class today? Or perhaps she left earlier, and I missed her." He had no choice but to take another ride back. Arriving at Leng Residence, he saw the gate now open. His heart leapt with joy, and he hurried inside to find Nanny Han washing clothing in the courtyard.

Yanxi asked, "Nanny Han, has your young lady returned?" Nanny Han said, "Yes, she's in her room." Yanxi went straight to the room, where Leng Qingqiu sat reading at her desk.

Seeing Yanxi enter, Leng Qingqiu quickly stood up and smiled, "What brings you here today?" Yanxi said, "I've come several times, but you weren't home."

Leng Qingqiu said, "I was in class today." Yanxi replied, "I know. I even waited at your school gate, but didn't see you."

Leng Qingqiu asked, "Why did you wait at my school gate?" Yanxi said, "I have something to tell you." Leng Qingqiu said, "What is it? Please, have a seat."

So they sat together. Yanxi said, "About what I mentioned yesterday-going out again next week. Are you willing or not?"

Leng Qingqiu said, "I'm afraid I won't have time next week." Yanxi asked, "Why no time?" Leng Qingqiu explained, "Our school has exams next week."

Yanxi argued, "Exams don't take every day. One day out won't hinder your studies." Leng Qingqiu said, "I need to prepare before the exams."

Seeing Leng Qingqiu's evasions, Yanxi grew upset and said, "Are you unwilling to go out with me?" Leng Qingqiu replied, "I didn't say unwilling. I truly have no time."

Yanxi pressed, "If you had time, would you be willing?" Leng Qingqiu said, "Naturally." Yanxi asked, "Then when will you have time?"

Leng Qingqiu said, "It's hard to say. Probably after the exams are over." Yanxi inquired, "When do they end?" Leng Qingqiu replied, "About a week from now."

Yanxi said, "Then I'll wait until after your exams to invite you again." Leng Qingqiu agreed, "All right."

Seeing Leng Qingqiu's reluctant agreement, Yanxi felt even more displeased. After sitting a while, he took his leave. Leng Qingqiu saw him to the gate. Yanxi said, "Go on in. I'll visit again in a few days."

Leng Qingqiu nodded and went inside. Yanxi walked home, feeling gloomy. He thought, "Why is she so distant? Has she changed her mind?"

Then he reconsidered, "Perhaps she really is busy with exams. I'll wait until they're over." This thought comforted him somewhat.

From then on, Yanxi eagerly awaited the end of Leng Qingqiu's exams. After a long week, he thought, "She must be done by now. I'll go ask her."

So he went to Leng Residence, where he found Leng Qingqiu sitting in her room, looking troubled. Yanxi asked, "Are your exams over?" Leng Qingqiu said, "Yes."

Yanxi inquired, "How did they go?" Leng Qingqiu replied, "Not very well." Yanxi consoled, "It doesn't matter if they weren't good. You can do better next time."

Leng Qingqiu said, "You make it sound so easy." Yanxi said, "What's so hard about it? Just study harder next time."

Leng Qingqiu lamented, "Where will I have many next times?" Yanxi asked, "Why not? Won't you take exams again?"

Leng Qingqiu revealed, "My mother says we can't afford it. She won't let me continue school." Yanxi, shocked, exclaimed, "Why not?"

Leng Qingqiu explained, "My father died early. The family depends solely on my mother. How can we afford my tuition?"

Yanxi offered, "That's no problem. I can help you." Leng Qingqiu asked, "Help me? How?"

Yanxi said, "I can cover your tuition fees." Leng Qingqiu protested, "How can that be? We're not relatives or even close. How can I accept your money?"

Yanxi argued, "Though we're not relatives, we're friends. Among friends, there's a duty to share resources. What's wrong with me helping with a bit of tuition?"

Leng Qingqiu shook her head, "No, my mother would never agree." Yanxi suggested, "If she won't agree, can't you keep it from her?"

Leng Qingqiu said firmly, "That's even worse. How could I secretly use your money behind my mother's back?" Yanxi asked, "Then what do you plan to do?"

Leng Qingqiu said, "I have no plan. I'll just stop studying." Yanxi asked, "If you don't study, what will you do at home?"