Explore Chapter 25 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.
Since the day he sent the silk fabric, Yanxi had been contemplating sending something more distinctive to Leng Qingqiu. One day, while rummaging through old items in his study, he found a fan made of Xiangfei bamboo. The fan surface was plain white, adorned with a few strokes of light ink depicting a landscape, quite elegant indeed. He thought to himself, this fan would be perfect for inscribing a poem as a gift, to express his affection. So he ground ink, wielded the brush, and inscribed a quatrain on the fan: "Where the breeze stirs, willow tendrils sway; on the path, spring returns to the swallows' home. May this heart be like the bright moon, its pure light ever shining on the peach blossoms." After inscribing, he also stamped his small seal.
He carefully wrapped the fan and ordered Jin Rong to deliver it to Leng Residence. Jin Rong accepted the order and went straight to Falling Flowers Lane. Upon arriving at Leng Residence, Nanny Han came out to receive it. Jin Rong said, "This is from Seventh Master to Miss Leng. Please be sure to deliver it." Nanny Han took it and went inside to hand it to Leng Qingqiu. Leng Qingqiu opened it and saw an exquisite fan with poetry and painting on it. The handwriting was Yanxi's, so her heart first filled with joy. But upon closer inspection, she noticed a blurred seal in one corner, resembling the characters 'Xiangyun'. Suspicion suddenly arose in her. She wondered if this fan was something Yanxi had obtained from another woman and then passed on to her. If so, wouldn't that be frivolous?
The more Leng Qingqiu thought about it, the more displeased she felt. She tossed the fan on the table, gave no response, and sat alone by the window in a daze. Nanny Han saw her strange expression and asked, "Miss, isn't the fan good?" Leng Qingqiu shook her head and said, "It's nothing. You may leave." Nanny Han had no choice but to withdraw. Leng Qingqiu picked up the fan and looked at it again. The characters 'Xiangyun' seemed more and more real. Her heart felt as if blocked by a stone, and she was deeply unhappy.
For two days in a row, Yanxi received no reply from Leng Qingqiu and grew anxious. That afternoon, he personally went to visit. Song Runqing came out to greet him and said with a smile, "Brother Yanxi is here. Leng Qingqiu is inside." Yanxi said, "I sent a fan the other day. I wonder if she liked it?" Song Runqing replied, "She accepted it but hasn't mentioned it. I'll call her out." With that, he went to summon Leng Qingqiu. Leng Qingqiu claimed she was unwell and refused to come out. Yanxi waited for a while, then had to leave in disappointment.
Mrs. Leng noticed her daughter had been eating and drinking little these past two days and came to her room to inquire. Leng Qingqiu initially refused to speak, but after her mother pressed repeatedly, she revealed the matter of the fan. Mrs. Leng said, "If Master Jin truly cares for you, he would not give you someone else's thing. This fan might be his own old possession, and the seal could have blurred over time. Don't overthink it and harm your rapport." Leng Qingqiu said, "You're right, Mother, but I still feel uneasy inside."
Another day passed, and Yanxi couldn't help but visit again. This time, Leng Qingqiu could not refuse any longer and had to come out to meet him. Yanxi saw her pale face and cold demeanor, so he asked, "Leng Qingqiu, have you been well these past days? Did you like the fan I sent?" Leng Qingqiu replied calmly, "The fan is fine, but I wonder about the origin of that seal on it." Yanxi was taken aback, then smiled and said, "So you're suspicious because of that. I bought that fan many years ago in the south, and the seal was originally from the seller. I never paid attention to it. If you don't like it, I'll send you another one."
Seeing his candid explanation, Leng Qingqiu's doubts gradually dissipated. She said softly, "I was just asking casually. There's no need to send another." Yanxi replied, "I was only afraid you'd misunderstand. Don't you understand my feelings?" Leng Qingqiu's face flushed red. She turned to pour tea and said nothing more. Yanxi knew her anger had subsided. He chatted a bit longer before taking his leave.
Returning home, Yanxi recalled Leng Qingqiu's suspicion and couldn't help but smile wryly. He called Jin Rong over and instructed, "In the future, when sending things to Miss Leng, be meticulous. Avoid such oversights." Jin Rong repeatedly agreed. Yanxi reflected to himself that a young lady's heart is delicate, so he must be careful in all matters from now on.
As for Leng Qingqiu, after the misunderstanding was cleared that day, her affection for Yanxi deepened further. But thinking back on her suspicions over the past two days, she felt somewhat ashamed. She took out the fan and looked at the poem again. Finding each word sincere, she fell into a silent reverie. Outside the window, the moonlight was like water, and tree shadows swayed gently. She sat alone until late at night before slowly drifting off to sleep.