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, 13] 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 Qin-shi. [3, 5, 10, 11, 13] young wife of Jia Rong of the Ning-gue mansion of the Jia family.

Jia Rong [3, 6, 10, 11, 13] 16 year old son of Jia Zhen, of the Ning-guo mansion, husband of Qin-shi.

While sleeping Xi-feng is visited by an apparition of Qin-shi. The apparition tells Xi-feng that she should buy land in order to provide an income that will be able to sustain the Jia school in difficult economic times. She also tells Xi-feng that although there will be happy times ahead, after 3 years it will quickly come to an end.

Xi-feng awakes to find that Qin-shi has died. Elaborate funeral arrangements are made.

Jia Rong is given a new position so that Qin-shi's funeral will appear more important.

As Cousin Zhen's wife is ill, he decides to ask Xi-feng to stand in for her during the funeral.

Making these notes has become an enjoyable activity in its own right. I feel that I am more immersed in the novel when making the notes than I am when I am simply reading it.

Once again, we have a visit from the otherworld of spirits - this time from the soul of Qin-shi.