Explore Chapter 38 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.
Yanxi had been strolling through the park. Initially, his mind was preoccupied with Bai Xiuzhu’s expression, which had made everything seem displeasing. Today, upon seeing Bai Xiuzhu along with Li Qianyun, Zeng Meiyun, and the others-all of them adorned like flowers, a riot of color displayed before his eyes-the scene was truly lively. It seemed the trip had not been in vain. Therefore, he put aside Bai Xiuzhu’s aloof manner and mingled with this group of young ladies.
Among them was a Miss Lin, a cousin of Li Qianyun and also a charming and handsome figure. When she saw Yanxi, she leaned close to Li Qianyun's ear and whispered a few words. Li Qianyun then smiled and said to Yanxi, "Mr. Jin, our cousin here, Miss Lin Xiuzhu, would very much like to converse with you." Yanxi turned to look. This Miss Lin, unlike the Chinese Xiuzhu, was dressed in Western attire, wearing a light green gauze gown with her hair styled in two coiled buns. Her skin was fair and delicate, her features clear and bright-she too was an extremely vivacious young lady. Yanxi stepped forward and gave her a slight nod, saying, "It would be a great honor to have a talk with Miss Lin." Lin Xiuzhu then extended a snow-white arm to shake hands with Yanxi. Seeing her arm so white and tender, Yanxi took her hand in his.
Lin Xiuzhu smiled and said, "I often hear Miss Li say that Seventh Master is a man of great grace and ease. Seeing you today, your reputation is indeed well-deserved." Yanxi laughed and replied, "That is far too kind. On the contrary, a modern lady like Miss Lin is a rare sight for me. Meeting you today is truly an unexpected pleasure." Lin Xiuzhu chuckled, "Seventh Master, you are quite the jester. We dare not claim the title 'modern'." Yanxi asked, "How so?" Lin Xiuzhu said, "I hear Seventh Master has a fiancée who is the true embodiment of modernity."
This seemingly innocuous remark touched a sensitive spot in Yanxi’s heart. Yanxi wondered to himself, how would she know? Could it be that Xiuzhu told her? With such thoughts, his face inevitably betrayed some unease. Li Qianyun, observing from the side, smiled and said, "Miss Lin speaks quite without restraint. How can you mention Seventh Master’s fiancée upon first meeting him?" Lin Xiuzhu also realized her words had been too presumptuous. Blushing, she bowed to Yanxi and said, "My apologies, it was an unthinking remark." Yanxi could only manage a strained smile and reply, "It’s of no consequence."
After this exchange, Yanxi and Lin Xiuzhu felt too awkward to engage in close conversation, merely exchanging a few polite pleasantries. Li Qianyun also knew her words had caused Yanxi’s misunderstanding and found it inconvenient to intervene further. She then invited everyone to the ballroom. By now, night had fallen. In the ballroom, electric lights glittered brilliantly, and the room was filled with the mingled scents of perfumed hair and fine garments, a bustling crowd.
In such settings, Yanxi found it easiest to befriend young ladies. In less than an hour, he had become acquainted with two more: one was Miss Hu Xiaomei, the other Miss Wu Aifang. Both ladies were exceedingly beautiful. Hu Xiaomei belonged to the lively, spirited type, while Wu Aifang was of the gentle, mild-mannered sort. Yanxi looked around, feeling immensely amused as he socialized amidst this bejeweled and begowned assembly.
Bai Xiuzhu sat in a corner, staring intently at Yanxi conversing with those two ladies, her face unavoidably clouded by a look of displeasure. Yet in such a place, wherever Yanxi’s gaze fell, he saw only adorned and colorful figures. Occasionally glancing back, he caught sight of Bai Xiuzhu’s aggrieved and resentful expression, which stirred his heart once more. He thought, I have neglected her. So he smiled and nodded in her direction.
Seeing Yanxi greet her, Xiuzhu deliberately turned her head away to speak with Second Miss Wu beside her. Yanxi, seeing Xiuzhu ignore him, also felt it was pointless. He turned back and continued his conversation with Miss Hu and Miss Wu. Just then, the band struck up a tune, and many people left their seats one after another to dance on the floor.
Seeing Hu and Wu leave, Yanxi walked over to Xiuzhu and said with a smile, "Miss Bai, may I have this dance with you?" Xiuzhu tilted her head away and said, "I’m not feeling very well today. You must excuse me." Yanxi smiled and said, "You really are angry. I came today specifically to keep you company."
Exposed by her words, Yanxi felt somewhat embarrassed. He forced a smile and said, "That was just a polite remark one makes in social settings; it shouldn’t be taken seriously." Xiuzhu said, "Such words are only fit to fool a child." Yanxi said, "If you refuse to believe me, there’s nothing I can do."
At that moment, the band began to play again. Yanxi seized the opportunity to repeatedly invite Xiuzhu to dance. Xiuzhu said, "My feet truly hurt today. I’ll oblige you another time." Yanxi, seeing her determined refusal, had no choice but to let it be and sat down in a chair beside her.
Second Miss Wu, noticing Yanxi’s awkward discomfiture, smiled and said, "Seventh Master, please don’t take it to heart. Miss Bai truly isn’t feeling well today." Yanxi said, "Perhaps my coming here was too forward." Second Miss Wu said, "You came just in time. We were just worrying about not having a gallant escort."
Just as she spoke, a young man in a Western suit walked over, bowed to Xiuzhu, and invited her to dance. Xiuzhu stood up and went with the young man onto the dance floor. Yanxi watched intently as the two of them whirled across the floor, feeling an indescribable discomfort in his heart.
Second Miss Wu whispered to Yanxi, "This is Mr. Wang Youchun, the second son of Finance Minister Wang. He and Miss Bai are also very good friends." Yanxi said indifferently, "Oh! I see."
Second Miss Wu smiled and said, "Why such haste, Seventh Master?" Yanxi said, "I have some matters to attend to tomorrow." With that, he walked out of the ballroom and went home crestfallen.
Upon arriving home, Jin Rong came out to greet him and said with a smile, "Seventh Master, you’ve returned just in time. The madam was looking for you." Yanxi asked, "What does the madam want?" Jin Rong replied, "Second Madam Liu is here playing mahjong. They are short one player, so the madam sent me to fetch you."
Yanxi, already vexed, said, "Go back and tell the madam I have a headache and have already retired for the night." Jin Rong assented and left. Yanxi returned to the study, sitting alone in gloom. He wondered, why has Xiuzhu suddenly turned so cold towards me? Could she have heard some idle gossip? Or perhaps she is intentionally acting this way to test my feelings.
He pondered back and forth, the more he thought, the more agitated he became. Finally, he went to the bedroom to sleep. But lying in bed, tossing and turning, sleep would not come. The image of Bai Xiuzhu’s charmingly pouty face and Wang Youchun’s smug expression kept spinning in his mind.