評論
打印
Though a Purveyor， by Imperial appointment， he had not the least idea of anything relating to matters of business or of the world. All he was good for was： to take advantage of the friendships enjoyed by his grandfather in days of old， to present himself at the Board of Revenue to perfunctorily sign his name and to draw the allowance and rations； while the rest of his affairs he， needless to say， left his partners and old servants of the family to manage for him.
His widowed mother， a Miss Wang， was the youngest sister of Wang Tzu-t'eng， whose present office was that of Commander-in-Chief of a Metropolitan Division； and was， with Madame Wang， the spouse of Chia Cheng， of the Jung Kuo Mansion， sisters born of one mother. She was， in this year， more or less forty years of age and had only one son： this Hsueeh P'an.
She also had a daughter， who was two years younger than Hsueeh P'an， and whose infant name was Pao Ch'ai. She was beautiful in appearance， and elegant and refined in deportment. In days gone by， when her father lived， he was extremely fond of this girl， and had her read books and study characters， so that， as compared with her brother， she was actually a hundred times his superior. Having become aware， ever since her father's death， that her brother could not appease the anguish of her mother's heart， she at once dispelled all thoughts of books， and gave her sole mind to needlework， to the menage and other such concerns， so as to be able to participate in her mother's sorrow， and to bear the fatigue in lieu of her.
As of late the Emperor on the Throne held learning and propriety in high esteem， His Majesty called together and singled out talent and ability， upon which he deigned to display exceptional grace and favour. Besides the number called forth from private life and chosen as Imperial secondary wives， the daughters of families of hereditary official status and renown were without exception， reported by name to the authorities， and communicated to the Board， in anticipation of the selection for maids in waiting to the Imperial Princesses and daughters of Imperial Princes in their studies， and for filling up the offices of persons of eminence， to urge them to become excellent.
Ever since the death of Hsueeh P'an's father， the various assistants， managers and partners， and other employes in the respective provinces， perceiving how youthful Hsueeh P'an was in years， and how much he lacked worldly experience， readily availed themselves of the time to begin swindling and defrauding. The business， carried on in various different places in the capital， gradually also began to fall off and to show a deficit.
Hsueeh P'an had all along heard that the capital was the _one_ place for gaieties， and was just entertaining the idea of going on a visit， when he eagerly jumped at the opportunity （that presented itself，） first of all to escort his sister， who was going to wait for the selection， in the second place to see his relatives， and in the third to enter personally the capital， （professedly） to settle up long-standing accounts， and to make arrangements for new outlays， but， in reality， with the sole purpose of seeing the life and splendour of the metropolis.
He therefore， had， at an early period， got ready his baggage and small luggage， as well as the presents for relatives and friends， things of every description of local production， presents in acknowledgment of favours received， and other such effects， and he was about to choose a day to start on his journey when unexpectedly he came in the way of the kidnapper who offered Ying Lien for sale. As soon as Hsueeh P'an saw how _distinguee_ Ying Lien was in her appearance， he formed the resolution of buying her； and when he encountered Feng Yuean， come with the object of depriving him of her， he in the assurance of superiority， called his sturdy menials together， who set upon Feng Yuean and beat him to death. Forthwith collecting all the affairs of the household， and entrusting them one by one to the charge of some members of the clan and several elderly servants of the family， he promptly took his mother， sister and others and after all started on his distant journey， while the charge of homicide he， however， treated as child's play， flattering himself that if he spent a few filthy pieces of money， there was no doubt as to its settlement.
