Learning:
The Journey of a Lifetime
A Cloud Chamber of the Mind

2006 Literature Notebook

Wang Xi-feng ("Peppercorn" Feng) (Mrs. Lian): [3, 6, 7, 8, 11, 12] Wife of Jia Lian, a beautiful young woman (about 18 - 19 years old), who is responsible for much of the management of the Rong-guo mansion.

Jia Rui [9, 11, 12] grandson of the schoolmaster Jia Dai-ru.

Lin Ru-hai [2, 3, 12] A Salt Commissioner in Yangchow area. Originally from an aristocratic family, he was no longer entitled to any privileges, and made his way by education and merit. His chief wife was a Miss Jai, and they have a young daughter Dai-yu.

Lin Dai-yu. [2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12] Young daughter of Lin Ru-hai. She received tutoring from Jai Yu-cun but now she is being brought up by the Jias of Rong-guo mansion.

Jia-Lian [7, 12] Son of Jia She and Jia Zheng; husband of Wang Xi-feng

Jia Rui continues to try to arrange a liason with Xi-feng. She deceives him into thinking she is interested but when he arrives he finds that he is locked out and trapped in the cold weather. When he finally arrives home the next morning he is given a good caning by his grandfather.

Undetered, he then arranges for another meeting with Xi-feng. This time she sets a trap where he instead meets Jia Rong and Jia Qiang. They finally agree to not tell anyone of Jia Rui's efforts if he agrees to pay them a fair amount of money.

Jia Rui becomes despondent at his failed attempts to interest Xi-feng. A Taoist arrives (from the otherworld) and gives Jia Rui a mirror with the instructions that he is never to look at the back of the mirror. He does and then dies shortly after.

Lin Ru-hai falls seriously ill and sends a message asking to see his daughter Dai-yu again. Jia Lian accompanies Dai-yu as she goes to see her father.

The appearance of the Taoist with a "magic" mirror is another example of us humans being visited by beings from the otherworld. They provide some influence on our situation, but often it is more complex than a simple aid or handicap.