Story of the Stone (Volume II)

Cao Xueqin (?1715-63) was born into a family which for three generations held the office of Commissioner of Imperial Textiles in Nanking, a family so wealthy they were able to entertain the Emperor four times. However, calamity overtook them and their property was consfiscated. Cao Xueqin was living in poverty when he wrote his famous novel The Story of the Stone.

• Note on SpellingPrefaceChapter 27Beauty Perspiring sports with butterflies by the Raindrop Pavilion; And Beauty Suspiring weeps for fallen blossoms by the Flowers' GraveChapter 28A Crimson cummerbund becomes a pledge of friendship; And a chaplet of medicine-beads becomes a source of embarassmentChapter 29In which the greatly blessed pray for yet greater blessings; And the highly strung rise to new heights of passionChapter 30Bao-Chai speaks of a fan and castigates her deriders; Charmante scratches a 'qiang' and mystifies a beholderChapter 31A torn fan is the price of silver laughter; And a lost kylin is the clue to a happy marriageChapter 32Bao-yu demonstrates confusion of mind by his declaration to the wrong person; And Golden shows an unconquerable spirit by ending her humiliation in deathChapter 33An envious younger brother puts in a malicious word or two; And a scapegrace elder brother recieves a terrible chatisementChapter 34A wordless message meets with silent understanding; And a groundless imputation leads to undeserved rebukesChapter 35Sulky Silver tastes some lotus-leaf soup; And Golden Oriole knots a flower-patterned fringeChapter 36Bao-chai visits Green Delights and bears strange words from a sleeper; And Bao-yu visits Pear-tree Court and learns hard facts from a performerChapter 37A happy inspiration prompts Tan-chun to found the Crab-flower Club; And an ingenious arrangment enables Bao-chai to settle the chysanthemum poem titlesChapter 38River Queen triumphs in her treatment of chysanthemum themes; And Lady Allspice is satirical on the subject of crabsAn inventive old countrywoman tells a story of somewhat questionable veracity; And and impressionable young listener insists on getting to the bottom of the matterChapter 40Lady Jia holds two feasts in one day in the Prospect Garden; And Faithful makes four calls on three dominoes in the Painted ChamberChapter 41Jia Bao-yu tastes some superior tea at Green Bower Hermitage; And Grannie Liu samples the sleeping accommodation at Green DelightsChapter 42Lady Allspice wins over a suspicious nature with some well-intentioned advice; And River Queen enhances her reputation as a wit with some amusing sarcasmsChapter 43An old woman's whim is the occasion of a birthday collection; And a young man's remorse finds solace in a simple ceremonyChapter 44Xi-feng's jealousy is the object of an unexpected provocation; And Patience's toilet is a source of unexpected delightChapter 45Sisterly understanding finds expression in words of sisterly frankness; And autumnal pluviousless is celebrated in verses of autumnal melancholyChapter 46An awkward person is given an awkward mission; And a faithful maid vows faithfulness unto deathChapter 47In pursuit of love the Oaf King takes a fearful beating; And from fear of reprisal the Reluctant Playboy makes a hasty getawayChapter 48The Love-Deluded One Turns his thoughts to trade and travel; And the Poetry Enthusiast applies herself to making versesChapter 49Red flowers bloom brighter in dazzling snow; And venison reeks strangely on rosebud lipsChapter 50Linked verses in Snowy Rushes Retreat; And lantern riddles in the Spring In Winter RoomChapter 51A clever cousin composes some ingenious riddles; And an unskilful physician prescribes a barbarous remedyChapter 52Kind Patience conceals the theft of a Shrimp Whisker bracelet; And brave Skybright repairs the hole in a Peacock Gold snow-capeChapter 53Ning-guo House sacrifices to the ancestors on New Year's Eve; And Rong-guo House entertains the whole family on Fifteenth NightAppendix I: Regulated VerseAppendix II: Threesomes with the DominoesAppendix III: Unsolved RiddlesCharacters in Volume 2Genealogical Tables

“Filled with classical allusions, multilayered wordplay, and delightful poetry, Cao’s novel is a testament to what Chinese literature was capable of. Readers of English are fortunate to have David Hawkes and John Minford’s The Story of the Stone, which distills a lifetime of scholarship and reading into what is probably the finest work of Chinese-to-English literary translation yet produced. You will be rewarded every bit of attention you give it, many times over.” —SupChina, “The 100 China Books You Have to Read, Ranked” (#1)