New here? This is Chapter 21 of Dream of the Red Chamber, China’s greatest novel, translated into modern English one scene at a time. Start with the Start Here guide, or meet the family on the Characters page.

The morning after a sleepover, who’s the first person through the bedroom door? In this house, it’s the boy.

Previously: Shi Xiangyun called Baoyu “Love Brother” right in front of Lin Daiyu, roasted her right back, and ran for it. (See Love Brother, free.)

Today Daiyu chases her, Baoyu blocks the door, and by dawn he’s back in the girls’ room, washing his face in their leftover water and begging for a braid. Watch the pearls in his hair, because somebody is counting them. And watch who walks in last.

Who’s here

Jia Baoyu · Lin Daiyu · Shi Xiangyun · Xue Baochai · Hua Xiren · and two maids, Zijuan and Cuilü (All the characters)

Two Translators Disagree. When Baoyu finds Xiangyun asleep with one arm out of the covers, Hawkes has him call her "a tomboy, even in her sleep." The Yangs have him say she "fidgets even in her sleep." Mine, and why, is below.

Hawkes says Xiangyun is “a tomboy, even in her sleep.” The Yangs say she “fidgets even in her sleep.” Which one would you pick? Tell me in the comments.

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The Translation

The Missing Pearl

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