Chapter 16: The Grand Garden Is Searched
Bab 16: Taman Besar Digeledah
Dark clouds were gathering over the Jia mansion. One evening, a servant found a small box containing improper items in the garden. The news spread quickly, and panic filled the household. The senior members of the family decided that a thorough search must be conducted to find the owner of the box.
Awan gelap berkumpul di atas rumah Jia. Suatu malam, seorang pelayan menemukan kotak kecil berisi benda-benda yang tidak pantas di taman. Berita itu menyebar dengan cepat, dan kepanikan memenuhi rumah tangga. Anggota senior keluarga memutuskan bahwa pencarian menyeluruh harus dilakukan untuk menemukan pemilik kotak itu.
Late at night, groups of servants led by senior family members went through every room in the Grand Garden. They opened drawers, searched under beds, and examined every corner. The young ladies were shocked and humiliated by this invasion of their private spaces. It was as if a storm had entered their peaceful world.
Larut malam, kelompok pelayan yang dipimpin oleh anggota senior keluarga melewati setiap kamar di Taman Besar. Mereka membuka laci, mencari di bawah tempat tidur, dan memeriksa setiap sudut. Gadis-gadis muda terkejut dan dipermalukan oleh invasi ruang pribadi mereka ini. Itu seperti badai telah memasuki dunia damai mereka.
When the search reached Tanchun's room, she stood at the door with anger in her eyes. "How dare you treat us like criminals?" she shouted. "We are the daughters of this family, not thieves!" She ordered her servants to light all the lamps and invited the searchers to look as much as they wanted. Her courage shamed those who had come to search her room.
Ketika pencarian mencapai kamar Tanchun, dia berdiri di pintu dengan kemarahan di matanya. "Bagaimana kalian berani memperlakukan kami seperti penjahat?" teriaknya. "Kami adalah putri keluarga ini, bukan pencuri!" Dia memerintahkan pelayannya untuk menyalakan semua lampu dan mengundang para pencari untuk melihat sebanyak yang mereka mau. Keberaniannya mempermalukan mereka yang datang untuk menggeledah kamarnya.
But the search continued in other rooms. Servants were questioned, belongings were thrown about, and trust was broken between masters and servants. The Grand Garden, once a place of beauty and joy, now felt like a prison. The young people realized that their happy days were coming to an end.
Tetapi pencarian berlanjut di kamar lain. Pelayan diinterogasi, barang-barang dilemparkan, dan kepercayaan rusak antara tuan dan pelayan. Taman Besar, dulu tempat keindahan dan sukacita, sekarang terasa seperti penjara. Anak-anak muda menyadari bahwa hari-hari bahagia mereka akan segera berakhir.
The search revealed little of importance, but it damaged something that could not be repaired. The trust and peace that had held the household together were now broken. From that night on, everyone knew that the Jia family was falling apart from within.
Pencarian itu mengungkapkan sedikit yang penting, tetapi merusak sesuatu yang tidak bisa diperbaiki. Kepercayaan dan kedamaian yang telah menyatukan rumah tangga sekarang hancur. Sejak malam itu, semua orang tahu bahwa keluarga Jia sedang hancur dari dalam.