Explore Chapter 56 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.
Early the next morning, Jin Rong came to report that everything had been handled according to the Seventh Master's instructions, and the items had been delivered to the Leng Residence. Yanxi nodded, somewhat relieved. In the afternoon, he changed into a newly made sapphire-blue satin fur-lined gown, with a black woolen riding jacket over it, ordered his carriage, and went straight to Falling Flowers Lane.
It was already the twenty-ninth day of the twelfth lunar month. Every household in the alley was bustling with New Year preparations-pasting Spring Festival couplets, hanging lanterns. The comings and goings created a lively scene. Yanxi's carriage stopped at the gate of the Leng Residence. Han Guanjin, hearing the sound, came out to greet him, his face wreathed in smiles. "The Seventh Master is here. Please come inside quickly; it's cold out."
Yanxi entered the courtyard and saw Mrs. Leng waiting on the steps of the main quarters. Yanxi hurried forward a few steps, bowed with hands clasped, and said, "Aunt, I wish you an early Happy New Year." Mrs. Leng promptly returned the courtesy, smiling. "You are too kind, Seventh Master. Please come inside and get warm."
Inside, the room was spotlessly clean. A square table in the center held several dishes of fruits and nuts. Leng Qingqiu emerged from the inner room carrying tea. Seeing Yanxi, her cheeks flushed faintly. "Seventh Brother," she said softly, placing the tea by his hand. Yanxi quickly responded, "Thank you, sister."
Mrs. Leng invited Yanxi to take the seat of honor. After repeated polite refusals, he finally sat in the guest seat. Exchanging a few pleasantries, Yanxi then took a red envelope from his robe and presented it to Mrs. Leng with both hands. "With the New Year approaching," he said, "my mother was concerned your household might face difficulties. She instructed me to bring this modest sum to help with immediate needs. I sincerely beg you not to refuse, Aunt, or my mother will surely blame me for failing in my task."
Mrs. Leng took the envelope, felt its weight, and opened it to find two bank drafts, each for one hundred yuan. Startled, she promptly pushed the envelope back, saying earnestly, "This is entirely improper. Your family has already shown us much kindness, and the New Year gifts were so generous. We are endlessly grateful. Such a substantial gift we absolutely cannot accept."
Yanxi pleaded sincerely, "Aunt, please do not treat us as outsiders. My mother often says that among relatives and neighbors, the true value lies in helping each other in times of need. This does not come from me personally, but truly embodies my mother's heartfelt wish. Moreover, this isn't solely for the New Year. It could be used for Leng Qingqiu's studies or for household necessities. If you do not accept it, Aunt, you would not only be slighting me but also disregarding my mother's generous sentiment."
Leng Qingqiu, standing nearby and witnessing Yanxi's earnest words and his mention of his mother, whispered to Mrs. Leng, "Mother, since Aunt Jin has expressed herself so, if we remain stubborn, it might appear ungracious. Perhaps we should accept it for now and think of ways to repay their kindness later."
Mrs. Leng pondered for a long moment, then sighed. "Since it is Mrs. Jin's kind intention, I shall accept it with shame. Seventh Master, when you return, you must convey our deepest gratitude to the lady for her great benevolence." Only then did she finally take the red envelope.
Seeing the matter settled, Yanxi was overjoyed. He chatted a while longer, describing the lively New Year celebrations at the Jin Family mansion-how each household had added many new amusements, and the opera troupe would perform from the twenty-third of the twelfth month until the fifteenth of the first. Mrs. Leng and Leng Qingqiu listened with faint smiles.
As dusk approached, Yanxi rose to take his leave. Mrs. Leng urged him to stay for dinner. Yanxi said, "Today I have some minor affairs to attend to at home. I will certainly impose on another day. On New Year's Eve, my mother insists on inviting you and sister to come over, watch the fireworks, and stay up together to welcome the New Year. Might I dare ask if you would honor us with your presence?"
Mrs. Leng replied, "Your family's grand occasion is no place for us to intrude. But since the lady's kindness is hard to refuse, if we have leisure then, we will certainly come to pay our respects to the Old Lady and the ladies."
Hearing this, Yanxi knew she had agreed and was even more delighted. After bidding farewell, Mrs. Leng and Leng Qingqiu saw him to the inner gate. Yanxi boarded the carriage and still clasped his hands in farewell through the window. As the carriage started, he looked back and saw Leng Qingqiu supporting her mother under the lantern light, their silhouettes graceful, visible until the carriage turned the corner.
On the afternoon of New Year's Eve, the Jin residence sent two automobiles to fetch them. Mrs. Leng and Leng Qingqiu, dressed in their finest, were escorted by Yanxi to the main quarters to pay New Year respects to Mrs. Jin. Mrs. Jin took Mrs. Leng's hand and seated her beside her, inquiring about their daily life and praising Leng Qingqiu for her lovely appearance and gentle temperament. After a while, sisters-in-law like Wang Yufen and Wu Peifang also came to greet them, adding to the lively atmosphere.
In the evening, a family banquet was laid out in the grand hall, with four tables in total. Jin Quan and his wife sat at the central table. Mrs. Leng was seated at the table next to the main one, alongside several concubines. Leng Qingqiu was pulled by Mei Li to sit at a table with young ladies like Minzhi and Runzhi. Yanxi moved among them, attending to everyone with warm solicitude.
The banquet featured delicacies from land and sea, as expected. On the stage, gongs and drums resounded vigorously, performing the full opera "Dragon and Phoenix Bring Prosperity". Laughter and happy chatter filled the air until the second watch of the night before the party dispersed.
After the feast, Mrs. Jin specially invited Mrs. Leng to her inner chamber, where they shared a long, confidential chat. As they were about to part, Mrs. Jin instructed a maid to bring out a large vermilion-lacquered gift box adorned with gold tracery. She said to Mrs. Leng, "Inside are some simple pastries and two bolts of fabric for you and the young lady to make new clothes. Also, two small ingots for the young lady's New Year money, for good fortune."
Mrs. Leng tried to decline again. Mrs. Jin said, "We visit each other so often now, we are practically family. If you keep standing on ceremony, you are treating us as outsiders." Mrs. Leng had no choice but to accept with a thousand thanks.
By the time they returned to Falling Flowers Lane, it was already midnight. Nanny Han and Han Guanjin received them and opened the gift box. Inside, besides an assortment of exquisite cakes and preserved fruits and two bolts of fine Jiangsu silk and satin, there were indeed two small gold ingots, each weighing one tael, gleaming with a bright yellow hue that dazzled the eye.
Leng Qingqiu held the two small gold ingots, examining them under the lamplight. In their brilliant gleam, she seemed to see reflected the Jin mansion's bustling, unfathomably deep courtyards, and Yanxi's enthusiastic yet elusive smile. She felt little joy in receiving the gifts. Instead, a vague sense of heaviness and melancholy settled in her heart. Gazing out at the deep night beyond the window, she remained silent for a long time.