Explore Chapter 86 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.
Now, after divorcing Leng Qingqiu, Jin Yanxi had suffered another great calamity at home, and his financial situation had plummeted. Yet old habits die hard. He continued to spend extravagantly outside and maintained a wide circle of friends. One day, while playing cards at a friend's house, he won a sum of money and felt quite pleased with himself. Leaving his friend's house, he thought of going for a stroll to relax.
He strolled onto a bustling street. Seeing a newly opened silk shop with splendid decorations, he sauntered in. The clerk, noticing Yanxi's exquisite attire and imposing manner, hurried forward to greet him. Yanxi glanced around casually. The silks and satins on the shelves dazzled his eyes. He selected several fashionable patterns and asked the clerk to wrap them up.
Just as he was paying, he suddenly heard a coquettish laugh beside him. "I wondered who was so extravagant. It turns out to be Seventh Master Jin." Yanxi turned to look. There were two young women dressed to the nines. One wore a peach red blouse, the other a willow green dress. Both were heavily made up and utterly seductive. Yanxi recognized them as old acquaintances from the pleasure quarters. One was called Pearl, the other Jade.
Pearl stepped forward, her eyes sparkling. She smiled and said, "Seventh Master, long time no see. Have you forgotten us? It's rare to meet today. Could you treat us sisters to some snacks?" Jade also approached, tugging at Yanxi's sleeve. "Where are you making your fortune now, Seventh Master? You're still as generous as ever."
Sandwiched between them, their fragrant scent wafted over him. Yanxi felt a stir in his heart. Having won money and being in high spirits, he laughed. "Treating you to snacks is nothing. Come, let's find a quiet restaurant." Immediately, he took Pearl and Jade out of the silk shop. They boarded a rickshaw and headed straight for a famous Southern restaurant.
Arriving at the restaurant, they chose a private booth and sat down. Yanxi ordered a table of exquisite dishes and a pot of fine wine. Pearl and Jade flattered him assiduously, taking turns to pour wine. With one on each arm, Yanxi drank until he was tipsy. He had long since cast aside the worries at home and his dwindling finances.
Seeing Yanxi in good spirits, Pearl said, "Seventh Master, the fabrics you bought today have such lovely colors. The other day, I also fancied a piece of lake crepe, but it was too expensive. I couldn't bring myself to buy it." Yanxi laughed. "What's so difficult about that? I'll buy it for you tomorrow." Hearing this, Pearl was overjoyed, her face lighting up with a smile. She hastily poured wine for Yanxi.
Not to be outdone, Jade picked up a piece of ham and brought it to Yanxi's mouth. She said coyly, "Seventh Master, you mustn't be partial. I want one too." Yanxi roared with laughter. "Everyone gets one, everyone! Tomorrow, one for each. When have I, Jin Seventh Master, ever shortchanged a friend?"
The three chatted and laughed until the table was littered with empty plates and cups. Yanxi settled the bill. He took out some more money and divided it between Pearl and Jade, telling them to buy whatever they liked. Pearl and Jade thanked him profusely. They surrounded Yanxi as they left the restaurant. After arranging to meet again tomorrow, they reluctantly went their way.
Yanxi walked home alone. The cool breeze on the way sobered him up a bit. Feeling his pockets, he realized that most of the money he had won was already spent. The remainder was earmarked for tomorrow's gifts. He thought of the household expenses and his mother's worried face. A flicker of unease passed through his heart. But then he thought, "When the cart reaches the mountain, there will be a way. Today we have wine, so today we drink." Remembering that tomorrow he could again frolic with Pearl and Jade, that little unease vanished like smoke.
Returning to his desolate little courtyard, he saw moonlight flooding the ground. Tree shadows danced. Suddenly, he recalled the scene from the past when he and Leng Qingqiu admired the moon here. She was dressed in plain clothes, as serene as a chrysanthemum. A pang shot through his heart. He quickly shook his head, strode into the house, and shut the door on that vexing memory.
That night, he slept restlessly. His dreams were filled with bizarre and kaleidoscopic images. Now the smiling faces of Pearl and Jade, now the resentful gaze of Leng Qingqiu, now the stern countenance of his father. Only when dawn began to break did he fall into a fitful sleep.
The next day, he woke up near noon. Remembering his promise to Pearl and Jade, he steeled himself. He found an excuse to borrow some money from his mother. He went to the silk shop and bought those two pieces of fabric. Sure enough, when he delivered the fabrics to Pearl and Jade, he received in return countless sweet words and tender attentions.
In this way, Yanxi relied on borrowing from here and there. He even pawned some old belongings to maintain a facade of prosperity. He whiled away his days with a circle of drinking buddies and women like Pearl and Jade. To outsiders, he was still that free-spending, carefree Jin Seventh Master. Only he himself knew that the seed of "worry" had long been deeply planted. It was merely concealed for a time by the luster of gold and the intoxication of alcohol. As the saying goes: White jade confers renown, enticing two flowers to vie in splendor. Gold is lavishly abused, yet fails to fill one guest's hidden sorrow.