After Baoyu recovered from his wounds, life in the mansion slowly returned to normal. One autumn morning, Tanchun, one of Baoyu's sisters, had a wonderful idea. "Why don't we start a poetry club?" she suggested. "We can meet in the garden, write poems, and share our thoughts."
Everyone loved the idea. The young ladies of the house each chose a name for the club, based on the places where they lived in the garden. Baoyu called himself "The Happy Lover of Red," while Daiyu chose "The Mournful Keeper of Bamboos." Baochai named herself "The Lady of the蘅芜 Court."
They met every week in a beautiful pavilion surrounded by chrysanthemums. Each person would write a poem on a given topic, and the others would read and judge them. The topics ranged from the beauty of autumn to the meaning of friendship. Sometimes they wrote about the moon, and sometimes about the flowers blooming in the garden.
Daiyu's poems were always the most moving. Her words carried a deep sadness that touched everyone's heart. Baochai's poems were elegant and well-crafted, showing her wisdom and education. Baoyu's poems were full of emotion but less careful in their form.
The poetry club became the happiest time in their young lives. For a few hours each week, they could forget about the rules and worries of the mansion. They were simply young people who loved words and beauty, sharing their hearts with each other through the art of poetry.