Chapter 4: Xue Baochai Enters the Mansion
Not long after Daiyu's arrival, another young girl came to live in the Jia mansion. Her name was Xue Baochai, and she was the daughter of a wealthy merchant family. Baochai was known for her beauty, her wisdom, and her gentle manners. Everyone who met her spoke highly of her character.
Unlike Daiyu, who was quiet and sensitive, Baochai was calm and practical. She knew how to speak to people in a way that made them feel comfortable. She helped the servants with their problems, gave good advice to the younger children, and always knew the right thing to say. Grandmother Jia was very pleased to have her in the house.
Baoyu also found Baochai to be a pleasant companion. She was well-read and could discuss poetry and philosophy with him. But there was something different about their relationship. With Baochai, Baoyu felt he had to be more careful with his words. She was the kind of person who expected others to follow the rules of society.
Daiyu noticed the attention that Baochai received, and a quiet jealousy grew in her heart. She saw how the elders praised Baochai's behavior and compared it to her own. "She is everything a young lady should be," they would say. Daiyu would turn away and say nothing, but her eyes would fill with tears.
The three young people lived together in the mansion, each one drawn to the others in different ways. Baoyu admired them both, but his heart belonged to the girl who understood his soul. The future would test their feelings in ways none of them could imagine.