Foreword:
This article mainly talks about Baoyu’s poetic talent in the newly built garden and the busy preparations of Rongguo Mansion for the visit of the Princess Jia. Jia Zheng invites guests to visit the garden and tests Baoyu’s talent. Baoyu’s creative inscriptions and couplets win praise, although Jia Zheng often teases him. During the visit, Baoyu’s sharp words sparked debate and praise, showing his talent. The arrival of the Princess Jia made Rongguo Mansion even busier, preparing luxurious banquets and performances. The whole chapter reveals the complex interpersonal relationships inside and outside Rongguo Mansion, especially the emotional entanglement between Baoyu and Xiren.
Jia Baoyu – Chapter 7 Baoyu Shows His Talent
Baoyu’s poetic talent in the newly built garden and the busy scene of Rongguo Mansion for the visit of the Princess Jia. On that day, the garden was completed, and Jia Zheng led a group of people to visit the garden, but because the Princess Jia did not write the plaque in person, Jia Zheng decided to test Baoyu’s talent. Baoyu was selected from the crowd and proposed many creative inscriptions and couplets, which won everyone’s praise, but Jia Zheng often half-jokingly said about Baoyu’s performance.
As the tour deepened, the discussion and writing process was intertwined with Baoyu’s sharp words and Jia Zheng’s ridicule. Baoyu’s words sometimes attracted praise and sometimes angered Jia Zheng, but he always attracted everyone with his poetic talent. He chanted many couplets, showing his talent. The arrival of Princess Jia brought great busyness and glory to Rongguo Mansion, and Rongguo Mansion prepared luxurious banquets and performances for her.
After the banquet and the tour, Baoyu returned home and felt the dilemma of Xiren facing redemption. He and Xiren had a deep relationship, and Xiren deliberately teased Baoyu in order not to cause trouble. Although Baoyu indulged in comfort, he embraced his feelings for Xiren, and the intimacy and humor between them were reflected through dialogues and various episodes.
Baoyu eventually received the attention of Jia Mu and began the changes in his life as a “noble”. The whole chapter shows the complex relationship between family members, especially the emotional entanglement between Baoyu and Xiren, and the response of Rongguo Mansion to this emotion and the bridging of internal and external relations.
Story: Jia Baoyu Shows His Talent
In the heart of the grand city of Jinling, during the vibrant days of the Qing Dynasty, lived a young scholar named Jia Baoyu. Renowned for his intelligence and charm, Baoyu was more than just a clever lad; he was a dreamer, enthralled by the beauty of the world around him. His life was one woven with delicate silks, fragrant teas, and the gentle sounds of flowing water from the nearby streams.
Baoyu belonged to the illustrious Jia clan, a family bustling with ambitions and expectations. Despite their wealth, his heart lay not in the pursuits of traditional scholarship or politics, but in the arts — poetry, music, and painting. Yet, he often felt overshadowed by the talents of his cousins, especially the elegant and accomplished Daiyu, whose poetry often left him in awe.
One day, a rumor fluttered through the estate like a mischievous breeze. A prestigious poetry competition was to be held at the annual Dragon Boat Festival. The finest scholars across the land would gather, and the victor would earn the respect of the emperor himself. Excitement filled the air of the Jia household, and everyone’s hopes turned to Baoyu.
“Baoyu, you must enter the competition!” his cousin Xue Baochai urged, her eyes sparkling with belief. “You have a gift for words that is unmatched!”
At first, Baoyu felt a flicker of courage. But as the day of the competition approached, doubt crept into his mind like an unwelcome shadow. He feared that his poetry, no matter how sincere or heartfelt, would be eclipsed by those with more experience.
In the quiet solitude of his favorite garden, surrounded by cherry blossoms drifting like dreams in the breeze, Baoyu pondered his dilemma. As he sat, feeling the soft petals brush against his skin, a lovely spirit emerged from the swaying branches of a willow tree. It was a fairy named Biyu, known as the Muse of Expression.
“Jia Baoyu, why do you frown when the world awaits your words?” she asked, her voice tinkling like the chimes in the wind.
“I wish to share my heart, yet I fear it will not be enough,” Baoyu replied, his gaze lost among the blossoms.
Biyu smiled gently. “True talent is not in comparison but in authenticity. Show the world your heart, and it shall shine through your verses.”
Encouraged by her wisdom, Baoyu returned home with a newfound resolve. He spent the days leading up to the festival surrounded by ink, paper, and the fragrance of jasmine tea. He poured his heart into his poetry, writing not for the prize or acclaim, but as a reflection of the world that inspired him — love, beauty, fleeting moments, and the bittersweet nature of life.
The dawn of the Dragon Boat Festival arrived, vibrant and alive with color and festivities. Scholars filled the bank of the river with their laughter, boats glided over the water, and the sky burst into a mosaic of departure and celebration. Baoyu stood at the riverside, a scroll of his poetry in hand, his heart racing like the fluttering flags above.
As the competition commenced, the first few participants dazzled the crowd with their elaborate verses. Baoyu watched, and his uncertainty swelled like a tide, yet he recalled Biyu’s words. When his name was called, he stepped forward, the warmth of the sun on his face, and the hurried whispers of the crowd meeting his ears.
He took a deep breath, closed his eyes, and began to recite:
“In the blooms of spring, where the river flows,
My heart finds solace among the echoes,
With whispers of breezes through willow leaves,
In fleeting moments, eternity weaves.”
Each line, infused with his spirit and experience, flowed naturally. He spoke of the cherry blossoms, the rivers, and, most importantly, the unspoken love for his dear cousin Daiyu. As he wove his verses, emotions washed over him, transcending above expectations and fears.
The crowd fell silent, enthralled by the depth and honesty in Baoyu’s words. When he finished, a moment of stillness hung in the air as if the world itself paused to admire the beauty he had created.
Then, like a burst of fireworks, applause erupted around him, shaking off the echoes of self-doubt. People cried out in admiration, their hearts touched by his sincerity and talent. Even Daiyu, who had watched from the sidelines, felt a tear slide down her cheek, moved by the raw beauty of his expression.
Baoyu was awarded a beautifully crafted scroll and a place of honor, but more than that, he felt a lift in his spirit. His poetry was not just about skill — it was about revealing his soul and sharing a glimpse of his unique perspective on life.
As he walked back to his family, proud and invigorated, he encountered Biyu once more beneath the blooming cherry trees. “I see you have found your voice,” she beamed, her eyes sparkling with joy.
“Yes,” Baoyu replied, brimming with happiness. “I now understand that the greatest talent lies not in perfection, but in the courage to share who we truly are.”
And so, Baoyu continued his journey, not as someone burdened by expectations, but as an artist unafraid to display the colors of his heart. The world of Jinling would forever remember the day when Jia Baoyu showed his true talent: the talent of being authentically himself.
