Explore Chapter 7 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.
At that moment, Xiuzhu cried out in alarm. Yanxi, in a flurry, fumbled frantically to shut the car door. With a grating screech, the automobile came to an abrupt halt. Everyone turned to see a donkey knocked to the ground by the roadside, and a man lying beneath it, a pool of dark blood staining the earth. Mei Li covered her eyes with a handkerchief, too terrified to look, and buried herself in Xiuzhu's embrace. Xiuzhu herself faced forward, not daring to cast a direct glance. The chauffeur Dehai exclaimed, "A disaster!" and leapt out of the vehicle. Yanxi slowly stepped down and stood at a distance. "How is the man? Is he badly injured?" he inquired. Dehai inspected the scene and said, "The donkey's legs are broken-it's done for. The man seems all right, probably unharmed." Feeling a measure of relief to hear the man was not injured, Yanxi approached and told Dehai to help him up. The man declined assistance, struggled to his feet, and brushed the dust from his clothes. Seeing the donkey dead, he instead sat on the ground and began to weep. "Are you hurt anywhere?" Yanxi asked. "My left arm still aches," the man replied. Yanxi felt in his pocket and found only two five-yuan notes. He turned to Xiuzhu. "Do you have any money on you?" "Yes," said Xiuzhu. "Give him more-he's had a genuine accident." So saying, she grabbed a handful of banknotes from her purse and handed them to Yanxi. Holding the money, Yanxi asked the man, "Is this donkey yours?" "No," the man said. "I borrowed the animal from someone to go into the city." "Tell me, how much should this donkey be worth?" "About fifty yuan," the man answered. Dehai stepped forward and slapped him. "You scoundrel, seeing we're about to pay, you think to swindle us!" Grabbing the man's tattered lined jacket by the lapel, he pointed right at his face. "Look at you! Aren't you a carter? Saying the beast isn't yours so you can cheat us, eh?" He gave a kick to the fallen donkey. "This creature should've been boiled for broth long ago. No one would pay twenty yuan for it, let alone fifty. Seventh Young Master, let's give him twenty yuan. He can take it or leave it." The man, a country fellow to whom every copper coin was as weighty as a millstone, was cowed by Dehai's ferocious demeanor and dared not utter a word. Yanxi rebuked Dehai: "Why strike him? It's we who hit him." Then to the man: "We can't agree to your price or his. Here's thirty yuan for the donkey. You're in pain, so here's ten more for your recovery. The donkey is dead; don't sell its meat, just bury it." Overjoyed by Yanxi's generosity, the man bowed repeatedly in gratitude. Yanxi said to Xiuzhu, "Driving is no trivial matter. Let's sit in the back again." So Dehai resumed driving. Getting into the car, Dehai cursed at the man: "You got off cheap, you lout. Today you truly met a god of wealth." Yanxi, accustomed to the chauffeur's cursing, could only shake his head with a wry smile.
The chauffeur drove in a loop and headed straight for the foot of the Western Hills Hotel. The Chinese attendant in Western attire at the pavilion, with keen eyes, noticed the license plate-it was from the Residence of Premier Jin-and immediately beamed, descending to welcome them. As Yanxi approached, he stepped aside, gave a slight bow, and said, "You've come." Yanxi entered the pavilion to find it packed with people, men and women, Chinese and foreigners, all mingled together. The fine weather had drawn many out for an excursion. Yanxi let Mei Li and Xiuzhu go ahead, passing through the pavilion to a table set among the flowers. Suddenly, a voice called from behind: "Mr. Jin, Miss Bai, Miss Jin." A voice, sweet as an oriole's call. Turning, they saw Second Miss Wu sitting with two Western men, drinking beer and eating ice cream. Before she finished speaking, she had come over, shaking hands with Xiuzhu and Mei Li, then with Yanxi. Second Miss Wu said, "I'm here with two friends newly arrived from England. I'll join you in a moment." Xiuzhu laughed. "No need for formalities. We're both fine as we are." Yanxi merely smiled faintly. The three sat outside the pavilion, separated by a reed curtain from those inside, so they couldn't see each other. Xiuzhu remarked, "Miss Wu certainly knows how to dress with flair. With Chinese friends, she wears Western suits; with foreign friends, she dons Chinese attire. Did you see that gold velvet cheongsam of hers, edged with black crystal beads? So dazzlingly vivid!" Mei Li whispered, "Like a vixen. I can't stand her." Xiuzhu stroked Mei Li's hair and chuckled. "Little thing, mind your words. Don't speak carelessly, or someone might take offense." She lifted her eyelids, glanced meaningfully at Yanxi, and asked, "Don't you think so?" Yanxi frowned. "Why bother? She's right here. It's pointless if she hears." Xiuzhu said, "Isn't it good that I'm defending her? In my view, you'd better rein in your heart and stop pining for her. Look, her heart is set on foreign friends. Foreign friends have money to spend on her. In the future, if she travels abroad, friends will host her. How can you compare? If you can't, you're not fit to be her rival in love." Yanxi said, "Are you mocking her or me?" His face flushed slightly. Xiuzhu had always treated Yanxi as if he were already conquered, so she often showed him her temper. In the past, Yanxi was utterly infatuated, completely under her spell. Whatever Xiuzhu said, he acquiesced, never daring to resist. But now it was different. From meals to dreams, he thought only of Leng Qingqiu. And Leng Qingqiu had just shown him some favor, so he strove to advance further. As for Bai Xiuzhu, they had been on terms of the closest intimacy, leaving nothing undone, with only the formal wedding ceremony remaining. In the past, Yanxi had longed to marry early for greater sweetness. But now, with a new goal, how could he endure Xiuzhu's attitude? So before she finished, he said, "Your words aren't exactly defending her, and they belittle me." Xiuzhu retorted, "Do I belittle you? I wouldn't be so unfriendly. Today, you're the one who showed me a sour face first, not I." Yanxi said, "If you hadn't shown me a sour face, how would I know you were angry?" Xiuzhu snapped, "So what if I show my displeasure? It's nothing. Am I afraid you'll get angry? Be as angry as you like. I couldn't care less." Mei Li, displeased to see her sister Xiuzhu and brother quarreling, said, "You two are so amusing, bickering back and forth. We've been out all day. It's time to go back." Yanxi said, "You're right. We came out to have fun. Why argue over trivialities? Let's return." Seeing Yanxi soften first, Xiuzhu didn't press further. They all stood up, left together, and rode back in the car.
Yanxi returned to his room to find Xiaolian coming forward with a beaming smile. "Seventh Young Master, you're back. Did you enjoy your outing?" Yanxi said, "Enjoy? I came back stewing in my own anger." Xiaolian asked, "Who offended you this time?" Yanxi replied, "No one. I brought it on myself." With that, he lay down on the sofa. Xiaolian poured out a cup of tea and offered it. "Seventh Young Master, have some tea to soothe your temper." Yanxi took the tea, sipped, and gazed at Xiaolian. She wore a white Indian cloth gown patterned with blue bamboo leaves. He smiled. "That gown of yours looks rather charming, doesn't it?" Xiaolian said, "This is the fabric you gave me last time. I made it myself." Yanxi said, "You're quite skilled." Then he took a brocade box from his pocket and handed it to her. "This is for you." Xiaolian accepted it, opened it, and found a pair of pearl earrings. Her face flushed crimson. "Such valuable things? How dare I accept?" Yanxi laughed. "Why not? I bought them specially for you." Xiaolian said, "Thank you, Seventh Young Master, but I dare not wear them." Yanxi urged, "Why not? Try them on." Blushing shyly, Xiaolian put on the earrings. Yanxi clapped and burst out laughing. "Excellent! They suit you perfectly." Xiaolian chided, "Seventh Young Master, you're teasing me again." She turned to run, but Yanxi grabbed her hand. "Don't run. I have more to say." Xiaolian said, "Speak then. Don't pull at me." Yanxi said, "You're always like this, so quick to blush. I tell you, in a couple of days, I'll give you something even better." Xiaolian protested, "Seventh Young Master, don't be like this. What if someone sees?" Yanxi said, "So what if they see? I'm not afraid." Xiaolian struggled free and was out of the room in a flash. Yanxi laughed heartily, feeling rather pleased with himself.