从上述可见，刘姥姥不仅朴实和明智，而且充满了机智和计谋。当她家多打了粮食，瓜果菜蔬也丰盛时，她们头一起摘下来的，并没想卖，留的尖儿，孝敬贾家，也算表示她们感激的穷心。周瑞家的告诉刘姥姥：“二奶奶说：‘大远的，难为她扛了些东西来，晚了就住一夜，明日再去。’这可不是投上二奶奶的缘了吗？——这也罢了，偏老太太又听见了，问：‘刘姥姥是谁？’二奶奶就回明白了。老太太又说：‘我正想个积古的老人家说话儿！

请了来见见。’这可不是想不到的投上缘了？”当刘姥姥见到贾母时，忙上前，陪着笑，拜了几拜，口里说：“请老寿星安。”贾母道：“老亲家，你今年多大年纪了？”刘姥姥忙起身答道：“我今年七十五了。”贾母向众人道：“这么大年纪了，还这么硬朗。比我大好几岁呢！我要到这个年纪，还不知怎么动不得呢！”贾母又笑道：“我才听凤哥儿说，你带了好些瓜菜来，我叫快收拾去了。我正想个地里现结的瓜儿菜儿吃，外头买的不象你们地里的好吃。”刘姥姥笑道：“这是野意儿，不过吃个新鲜。依我们，倒想鱼肉吃，只是吃不起。”贾母又道：“今日既认着了亲，别空空的就去，不嫌我这里，就住一两天再去。我们也有个园子，园子里头也有果子，你明日也尝尝，带些家去，也算是看亲戚一趟。”凤姐儿见贾母喜欢，也忙留道：“我们这里虽不比你们的场院大，空屋子还有两间，你住两天，把你们那里的新闻故事儿，说些给我们老太太听听。”刘姥姥便把乡村中所见所闻的事情说给贾母听，贾母越发得了趣味。

fromwhamenionedabovewecanseegra

yliuisnoonlysimple，pinandinelligen，bualsofullofresourcesandcalcuionswhenherfamilygesinmoregrainandagoodcropofpumpkins，fruiandvegeables，heydon’likeosellheirfirspickingsandkeephebesforhejiasoaseha’sjusheirpoorwayofshowingheirgraiudemrszhouoldgra

yliu：“madamliansaid：‘she’scomeallhawaywihaloadofhings；leherspendhenighhereandgobackomorrow’doesn’hashowshe’sakenafancyoyou？ha’snoalleiherheolddyhappenedooverhearusandasked，‘who’shisgra

yliu？’whenhawasexpinedbymadamlianshesaid，‘i’vebeenwaningohaveachawihsomeexperiencedoldsoulaskheroveroseeme’whocouldhaveimaginedsuchasrokeofluck？”whengra

yliusawhedydowager，sheseppedforward，smiling，andcurseyedoher“greeings，goddessoflonglife！”shecried“howoldareyou，venerablekinswoman？”askedhedydowager，gra

yliuroseoanswer，“sevenyfive”“soold，yesohaleandheary！why，you’reolderhaniambyseveralyearsifiliveoyourage，idoubwheherishallbesospry，”hedydowagerwenon“jusnowxifengoldmeyou’vebroughusaloofpumpkinsandvegeablesi’veaskedohavehemcookedaonce

i’vebeenlongingforsomefreshlypickedhingsofhiskindhosewebuyousidearen’asgoodasyours，sraighfromhefields”“hisisroughcounryfarebualeasi’sfresh，”gra

yliuanswered“we’drahereameaandfishourselves，onlywecan’affordi”“nowhawereiveshaveme，”hedydowagerconinued，“youmusn’leavewihnohingoshowforyourvisiifyoudon’dislikeourpce，dosayforacoupleofdayswehaveagardenoowihfruiiniomorrowyoumusrysomeandakesomehome，oshowyou’vevisiedyourreiveshere”xifengalsopressedgra

yliuosay，seeingwhaalikingheolddyhadakenoher“houghourpcehereisn’asrgeasyourfarmwehaveacoupleofempyrooms，”shesaid“dosayforadayorwo，andellourolddysomeofyourvilgenewsandsories”gra

yliuregaledhedydowagerwihsomevilgegossipwhichquiedelighedher

刘姥姥虽是个乡村野人，却生来得有些见识，况且年纪老了，世情上经历过的，见头一件贾母高兴，第二件这些哥儿姐儿都爱听，便没话也编出些话来讲。当她被嘲弄时，她把一切都当作笑话看待。凤姐儿拉过刘姥姥来，笑道：“让我打扮你。”把一盘子花，横三竖四的插了她一头。贾母和众人笑得了不得。刘姥姥不但不生气，反而也笑道：“我这头也不知修了什么福，今儿这样体面起来！”众人笑道：“你还不拔下来摔到她脸上呢，把你打扮的成了老妖精了！”刘姥姥笑道：“我虽老了，年轻时也风流，爱个花儿粉儿的，今儿索性作个老风流！”贾母在大观园设宴给史湘云还席，刘姥姥挨着贾母一桌。贾母这边说声‘请’，刘姥姥便起身来，高声说道：“老刘，老刘，食量大如牛：吃个老母猪，不抬头！”说完，却鼓着腮帮子，两眼直视，一声不语。众人先还发怔，后来一想，上上下下都一齐哈哈大笑起来。当宴席吃毕，凤姐儿笑道：“你可别多心，才刚不过大家取乐儿。”刘姥姥忙笑道：“咱们哄着老太太开个心儿，有什么恼的！你先嘱咐我，我就明白了，不过大家取笑儿。我要恼，也就不说了。”

gra

yliuhoughacounrywomanisnofoolbesides，beingoldandexperiencedshecanseehowdelighedheolddyisandhoweagerlyheyoungpeopleareliseningsowhensherunsouofgossipshedrawsonherimaginaionwhensheishelduporidicule，sheurnseveryhinginoridiculexifengpulledgra

yliuforwardandsaidwihasmile：“lememakeyoubeauiful，gra

y！”seizingallheflowersonhepe，shesuckhemhiswayandhainheoldwoman’shair，reducingeveryonepresenohelplessugher“idon’knowwhamerioriousdeedmyhead’sdoodeservehisgoodforune，”cackledgra

yliu，inseadofhavinggoangry“whaadashi’mcuingoday！”“whydon’youpullhemouandhrowheminherface？”gaspedheohers“she’sgoyouupolookarealoldvampire”“i’moldnow，buwheniwasyoungiwasflighyooandfondofflowers，”chuckledgra

yliu“soi’srighishouldbeanoldflibberigibbeoday”hedydowagergaveafeasingrandviewgardenorepayshixingyun’shospialiygra

yliusaaheablenexohedydowager’swhenhedydowagerurgedheromakeasar，gra

yliusoodupanddecimedaheopofhervoice：

“oldwomanliu，ivow，easmorehananycow，anddownsheselesnow，ogobbleanenormoussow”

henshedriedupabruply，puffingouhercheeksandsaringdownaherbowlheohershadbeensaggeredafirsbunoweveryone，highandlow，saredroaringwihugherwhenpresenlyhemealended，xifengsaidwihasmileogra

yliu：“youmusn’akeoffencewewereonlyhavingfunjusnow”“whaahingosay，”gra

yliuughed“wewereryingoamuseheolddy，whyshouldiakeoffence？whenyouippedmeoff，iknewiwasallinfunifi’dbeena

oyediwouldhavekepmymouhshu”

晚饭后，刘姥姥带着板儿来见凤姐，说：“明日一早定要回家去了。虽然住了两三天，日子却不多，把古往今来没见过的，没吃过的，没听见的，都经验过了。难得老太太和姑奶奶并那些小姐们，连各房里的姑娘们，都这样怜贫惜老，照看我。我这一回去，没别的报答，惟有请些高香，天天给你们念佛，保佑你们长命百岁的，就算我的心了。”凤姐儿笑道：“到底是你们有年纪的经历的多。我们大姐儿时常肯病，也不知是什么原故。”刘姥姥道：“这也有的。富贵人家养的孩子都娇嫩，自然禁不得一些儿委屈。再他小人儿家，过于尊贵了，也禁不起。以后姑奶奶倒少疼她些就好了。”凤姐儿道：“也是有的。——我想起来，她还没个名字，你就给她起个名字，借借你的寿；二则你们是庄家人，不怕你恼，到底贫苦些，你们贫苦人起个名字，只怕压的住。”刘姥姥听说，便想了一想，笑道：“不知她是几时养的？”凤姐儿道：“正是养的日子不好呢：可巧是七月初七日。”刘姥姥忙笑道：

“这个正好，就叫做巧姐儿好。这个叫做‘以毒攻毒，以火攻火’的法子。姑奶奶定依我这名字，必然长命百岁。日后大了，各人成家立业，或一时有不遂心的事，必然遇难成祥，逢凶化吉，都从这‘巧’字儿来。”凤姐儿听了，自是欢喜，忙谢道：“只保佑她应了你的话就好了。”说着，叫平儿来吩咐道：“明儿咱们有事，恐怕不得闲儿；你这会子闲着，把送姥姥的东西打点了，她明儿一早就好走的便宜了。”平儿说：“姥姥过这边瞧瞧。”她一一拿给刘姥姥瞧着，又说道：“这是昨日你要的青纱一匹，奶奶另外送你一个实地月白纱做里子。这是两个茧绸，做袄儿裙子都好。这包袱里是两匹绸子，年下做件衣裳穿。这是一盒子各样内造小饽饽儿，也有你吃过的，也有没吃过的，拿去摆碟子请人，比买的强些。这两条口袋是你昨日装果子的，如今这一个里头装了两斗御田粳米，熬粥是难得的；这一条里头是园子里的果子和各样干果子。这一包是八两银子。——这都是我们奶奶的。这两包每包五十两，共是一百两，是太太给的，叫你拿去，或者做个小本买卖，或者置几亩地，以后再别求亲靠友的。”说着又悄悄笑道，“这两件袄儿和两条裙子，还有四块包头，一包绒线，可是我送姥姥的。那衣裳虽是旧的，我也没大很穿，你要弃嫌，我就不敢说了。”

aferheeveningmealgra

yliuookban’eroseexifeng“imusgohomefirshingomorrow，”shea

ounced“i’venosayedherelong，onlywoorhreedays，yei’veseenhings，eaenhingsandheardellofhingsineverevenknewexisedheolddyandyou，madam，aswellasheyoungdiesandhegirlsinhedifferenaparmens，haveallbeenkindnessiselfoapooroldwoman

i’venowayoshowmygraiudewhenigebackexcepbyburningincenseeverydayandprayinghardobuddhaogranhaallofyouliveobeahundred”“yes，aferall，i’sheoldwhoarehemosexperienced”observedxifengwihasmile“canyouellme，gra

y，whyourdajierisalwaysailing？”“i’snauralenough，”repliedgra

yliu“hechildrenofwealhyfamiliesareoodelicaeosandanyroughhandlingbeingoopamperedisn’goodforkidseihershe’lldobeer，madam，ifyoudon’spoilheroomuch”“ihinkyou’rerigh，”agreedxifeng“byheway，shehasnonameyeyougiveheronesohashecanshareyourgoodforuneandliveaslongasyoubesides—ihopeyouwon’mindmysayinghis—youcounryfoldaren’sowelloff，andanamegivenbysomeonepoorlikeyoushouldacasacounerbance”“whenwassheborn？”askedgra

yliuafersomehough“ha’sherouble：

hesevenhofhesevenhmonh”“why，ha’sgood！callherqiaojierhenhisiswhaisknownas‘fighingpoisonwihpoisonandfirewihfire’ifyouagreeohisname，madam，she’ssureoliveoaripeoldageandwhenshegrowsupandhasherownfamily，ifanyhingunowardhappens，herbadluckwillurninogoodallbecauseofhis‘happycoincidence’inhername”xifengwasnaurallypleasedandsaidgraefully，“ihopeiwillurnouforherasyousay”shecalledping’erhenandoldher，“omorrowwe’llmoslikelybebusysorouourpresensforgra

ynowhayou’refree，sohashecanleaveasearlyassuisheromorrow”“comeandhavealook，gra

y”ping’ersaidshepickedhemuponebyooshowhemogra

y“hisishegreengauzeyouadmiredyeserdayandhereissomepalegreygauzefromourmisressforaliningheseworollsofrawsilkwoulddowellforunicsorskirs，andhewolenghsofsilkinhiswrappingwillmakeclohesfornewyearhere’sahamperofallsorsofcakesfromheimperialkichen；someyou’veased，ohersyouhaven’；hey’rebeeroofferovisiorshananyyoucanbuyouside

oneofhesewosacksyoubroughvegeablesinhaswopecksofriceinifromheimperialfields，whichmakesanexcellenporridge；heoherisfulloffruiandnusfromourgardeninhispackeareeighaelsofsilverallhesearepresensfromourmisresshesewopackesoffifyaelseach，ahundredinall，areapresenfromdywangwhowansyouosarasmallbusinessorbuysomendwihi，sohainfuureyoudon’haveoappealofriendsforhelp”hen，smiling，shesaidinalowvoice，“hesewounicsandhisskir，fourheadscarvesandpackeofembroiderysilksarefromme，gra

yheclohesmaynobenew，buheyhaven’beenwornmuchsill，ifyouurnupyournoseahem，ishan’compin”

刘姥姥见无事，方上来和贾母告辞。贾母说：“闲了再来。”又命鸳鸯来，“好生打发刘姥姥出去。”刘姥姥道了谢，又作辞，方同鸳鸯出来。到了下房，鸳鸯指炕上一个包袱说道：“这是老太太的几件衣裳，都是往年间生日节下众人孝敬的，却是一次也没穿过的，昨日叫我拿出两套来送你带了去。这盒子里头是你要的面果子。这包儿里头是你前儿说的药。

这是两个荷包，带着玩罢。前儿我叫你洗澡，换的衣裳是我的，你不弃嫌，我还有几件也送你罢。”刘姥姥又忙道谢。鸳鸯果然又拿出几件来，给她包好。刘姥姥又要到园中辞谢宝玉和众姊妹王夫人等去，鸳鸯道：“不用去了。他们这会子也不见人，回来我替你说罢。闲了再来。”又命了一个老婆子，吩咐她：“二门上叫两个小厮来，帮着姥姥拿了东西送去。”

婆子答应了。又和刘姥姥到了凤姐儿那边，一并拿了东西，在角门上命小厮们搬出去，直送刘姥姥上车去了。

whengra

yliuknewhaheolddywasfree，shecameosaygoodbyehedydowagerurgedherocomeagainandoldyuanyang：“seegra

yliuou”henwihfinalhanksgra

yliuookherleaveandwihdrewwihyuanyangohemaid’sroomyuanyangpoinedaabundleonhekang“hosearewosesofclohesgivenoheolddyonpreviousbirhdays，”shesaid“bushe’sneveroncepuhemonyeserdaysheoldmeochoosewosesforyouoakebackinhishamperarehepasriesyouaskedforinhispackearehemedicinesherearewoembroideredpouchesyoucanwearforfunhoseclohesyouchangedinowheniaskedyouohaveabahheoherdayweremineifhey’reanyuseoyoukeephem，andhereareafewohers”asgra

yliuhasilyhankedher，sheproducedwomoresesofclohingandwrappedhemupforherheoldwomanwanedogoohegardenosaygoodbyeobaoyu，heyoungdiesanddywang，buyuanyangprevenedher“here’snoneedheydon’seepeopleahishour

i’llellhemeryoumuscomeagainwhenyou’veime”anoldservingwomanwasdispachedogeaboyfromhei

ergaeohelpgra

yliuwihherhingshenheywenoxifeng’saparmensofechhegifshere，whichhepagecarriedouhroughhesidegaeandloadedonohecarriageheyhadhired

finally，heoldservingwomanescoredgra

yliuohecarriageandsawheroff

刘姥姥善良、随和，是个知恩图报的人。当她知道贾母去世了，就到贾府去。凤姐见了，问：“近来的日子还过的么？”刘姥姥千恩万谢的说道：“我们若不仗着姑奶奶，”说着，指着青儿说：“她的老子娘都要饿死了。如今虽说是庄家人苦，家里也挣了好几亩地，又打了一眼井，种些菜蔬瓜果。一年卖的钱也不少，尽够他们嚼吃的了。这两年，姑奶奶还时常给些衣服布匹，在我们村里算过得的了。阿弥陀佛！前日他老子进城，听见姑奶奶这里动了家。我就几乎唬杀了，亏得又有人说，不是这里，我才放心。后来又听见说这里老爷升了，我又喜欢，就要来道喜，为的是满地的庄稼，来不得。昨日又听见说老太太没有了。我在地里打豆子，听见了这话，唬的连豆子都拿不起来了，就在地里狠狠的哭了一大场。我给女婿说：‘我也顾不得你们了！不管真话谎话，我是要进城瞧瞧去的！’我女儿女婿也不是没良心的，听见了哭了一会子。今儿天没亮，就赶着我进城来了。”刘姥姥看着凤姐骨瘦如柴，神情恍惚，心里也就悲惨起来，说：“我们屯乡里的人，不会病的，若一病了，就要求神许愿，从不知道吃药。我想姑奶奶的病别是撞着什么了罢？”那里知道这句话倒合了凤姐的意。凤姐叫巧姐儿到她们面前，说：“你见过了姥姥了没有？你的名字还是她起的呢，就和干妈一样。你给她请个安。”又求刘姥姥：“求你替我祷告。要用供献的银钱，我有。”

便在手腕上退下一只金镯子来交给她。刘姥姥道：“姑奶奶，不用那个。我们村庄人家许了愿，好了，花上几百钱就是了，那用这些？就是我替姑奶奶求去，也是许愿，等姑奶奶好了，要花什么，自己去花罢。”凤姐明知刘姥姥一片好心，不好勉强，只得留下，说：

“姥姥，我的命交给你了！我的巧姐儿也是千灾百病的，也交给你了。”刘姥姥欣然答应，便说：“这么着，我看天气尚早，还赶的出城去，我就去了。明儿姑奶奶好了，再请还愿去。”

gra

yliuiskindhearedandamiable，awomanwhoknowshasheshouldreciprocaeforhegoodhingswhichhavebeendoneforherwhensheheardabouhedydowager’sdeah，shecameohejiamansionsxifengaskedgra

yliu：“howareyoumakingouhesedays？”herhearbrimmingoverwihgraiudegra

yliuanswered，“ifnoforyou”shepoinedahergranddaugherqing’erhenwenon，“herdadandmumwouldhavesarvednow，houghlifeonafarmishard，we’veboughquieafewmuofndandsunkawellwegrowvegeablesandfruioo，andmakeenoughfromhemofeedourselveshescoupleofyears，besides，you’vegivenusclohesandmaerialfromimeoimesohainourvilgewecounasquiewelloffamidabuddha！heoherdaywhenherdadcameoownandheardhayourfamilyherehadbeenraided，inearlydiedoffrigh！luckilyohersoldmeiwasn’hishouse，andhasemymindareswelearnederhahemaserhadbeenpromoed，andiwassopleasediwanedocomeooffercongrauions，buwhawihallhefieldworkicouldn’geawayhenyeserdayweheardhaheolddyhadpassedawayiwasgeinginbeanswhenheybroughmeword，andishockedmeoomuchogoonibrokedownhereinhefieldandcriedmyhearou！ioldmysoninw，‘ishallhaveoleaveyouoyourowndeviceswheheri’srueorno，imusgooownohavealook’mydaugherandsoninwaren’ckingingraiudeeiherheybohcriedoverhenews，andhismorningbeforedawnheyspedmeonmyway”gra

yliuwasgrievedoseehowwasedxifenghadbecome，andhowunclearinhermindshesaid：“wevilgersdon’fallillwhenwefeelpoorlywejusprayandmakepledgesohegods—weneverakemedicineidaresay，madam，hisillnessofyourswasbroughonbyevilspiris”hiscoincidedwihxifeng’sownviewxifengaskedqiaojieoherandsaid：“haveyougreeedgra

y？she’sheonewhogaveyouyourname，soshe’syourgodmoherinawayyoushouldpayyourrespecsoher”shealsobeggedgra

yliu：“pleaseofferprayersforme！ifyouneedmoneyforasacrifice，ihavesome”sheslippedoffagoldenbraceleandheldiouohergra

yliusaid：“here’snocallforhis，madamwhenwevilgersrecoverafermakingpledges，wejusspendafewhundredcopperswhaneedishereforallhis？ishallprayforyouandmakesomepledge，andonceyou’rebeeryoucanspendasmuchasyoulike”awarehashewasinearnes，xifengcouldnoinsis“gra

y，mylifeisinyourhands！”shesaid：“andmylileqiaojieisalwaysailingoo；ienrusheroyouaswell”gra

yliuassenedreadilyandproposed“inhiscase，asi’ssillearly，i’llgobacknowwhenyourecover，madam，youcangoohankhegods”

在刘姥姥回家为凤姐母女祷告期间，凤姐死了，贾琏又去见他病危的父亲去了。正当巧姐要被坏叔贾环狠舅王仁奸兄贾芸骗卖藩王时，已年过九十的刘姥姥又来到贾府，平儿便将巧姐装做青儿模样，平儿自己只当送人，眼错不见，也跨上车一同随刘姥姥回家去了，躲过了这场灾难。正是：留余庆，留余庆，忽遇恩人；幸娘亲，幸娘亲，积得阴功。劝人生，济困扶穷。休似俺那爱银钱、忘骨肉的狠舅奸兄！正是乘除加减，上有苍穹。

whilegra

yliuhasgonehomeoofferprayersforxifengandherdaugherqiaojie，xifengdiedandjialianhasgooseehisfaherwhoisdyingofconsumpioni’sjusahecriicalmomenwhenqiaojieisgoingobecheaedandsoldoaprinceinaborderprovincebyherbadunclejiahuan，cruelhearedunclewangrenandevilelderbroherjiayun，gra

yliuwho’sover90yearsoldcomesagainohejiasmansions，ping’erdressingqiaojieupolooklikeqing’er，sheherself，preendingobeseeingoffgra

yliu，slippinginohecarriageoowhennooneislooking；soheyhavelefhemansionforgra

yliu’shomeandaveredhecaasropheruly：

hanksoonesmallacofkindnessshemeesbychanceagraefulfriend；forunaehahermoherhasdonesomeu

oicedgood

menshouldrescuehedisressedandaidhepoor，benolikeherhearlessuncleorreacherouscousinwhoforloveofmoneyforgeheirownfleshandblood

ruly，rewardsandpunishmensaremeedoubyheaven

巧姐：巧姐是王熙凤和贾琏的女儿。当刘姥姥第二次拜访荣国府时，熙凤问她：“我们大姐儿时常肯病，也不知是什么原故。”刘姥姥道：“这也是有的。富贵人家养的孩子都娇嫩，自然禁不得一些儿委屈。再他小人儿家，过于尊贵了，也禁不起。以后姑奶奶倒少疼他些就好了。”凤姐儿道：“也是有的。——我想起来，他还没个名字，你就给他起个名字，借借你的寿；二则你们是庄稼人，不怕你恼，到底贫苦些，你们贫苦人起个名字，只怕压的住。”刘姥姥听说，便想了一想，笑道：“不知他是几时养的？”凤姐儿道：“正是养的日子不好呢：可巧是七月初七日？”刘姥姥忙笑道：“这个正好，就叫做巧姐儿好。这个叫做‘以毒攻毒，以火攻火’的法子。姑奶奶定依我这名字，必然长命百岁。日后大了，各人成家立业，或一时有不遂心事，必然遇难成祥，逢凶化吉，都从这‘巧’字儿来。”

qiaojie：qiaojieishedaugherofwangxifengandjialianwhengra

yliupaidhersecondvisioherongmansion，xifengaskedher，“canyouellme，gra

y，whyourdajieisalwaysailing？”“i’snauralenoughhechildrenofwealhyfamiliesareoodelicaeosandanyroughhandlingbeingoopamperedisn’goodforkidseihershe’lldobeer，madam，ifyoudon’spoilheroomuch”“ihinkyou’rerigh，”agreedxifeng“byheway，shehasnonameyeyougiveheronesohashecanshareyourgoodforuneandliveaslongasyoubesides—ihopeyouwon’mindmysayinghis—youcounryfolkaren’sowelloff，andanamegivenbysomeonepoorlikeyoushouldacasacounerbance”“whenwassheborn？”askedgra

yliuafersomehough“ha’sherouble：hesevenhofhesevenhmonh”“why，ha’sgood！callherqiaojiehenhisiswhaisknownas‘fighingpoisonwihpoisonandfirewihfire’ifyouagreeohisname，madam，she’ssureoliveoaripeoldageandwhenshegrowsupandhasherownfamily，ifanyhingunowardhappens，herbadluckwillurninogoodallbecauseofhis‘happycoincidence’inhername”

每年十一月初一日，老太太那里必是个老规矩，要办“消寒会”，齐打伙儿坐下，喝酒说笑。在这一天上午，巧姐给老太太请了安。贾母笑着道：“好孩子！我一早就起来了。

等他们总不来，只有你二叔叔来了。”那奶妈子便说：“姑娘，给叔叔请安。”巧姐便请了安。宝玉也问了一声“妞妞好？”巧姐道：“我妈妈说，跟着李妈认了几年字，不知道我认得不认得……要请二叔叔得空儿的时候给我理理。”宝玉问她：“你认了多少字了？”巧姐儿道：“认了三千多字。念了一本《女孝经》，半个月头里又上了《列女传》。”贾母道：

“女孩儿家认得字也好，只是女工针黹倒是要紧的。”巧姐道：“我也跟着刘妈妈学着做呢。什么扎花儿咧，拉锁子咧，我虽弄不好，却也学着会做几针儿。”宝玉也评述道：“那字是自然认得的，不用再理了。”巧姐道：“我还听见我妈妈说：我们家的小红，头里是二叔叔那里的，我妈妈要了来，还没有补上人呢。我妈妈想着要把什么柳家的五儿补上，不知二叔叔要不要。”宝玉听了更喜欢，笑着道：“你听你妈妈的话！要补谁就补谁罢咧，又问什么要不要呢！”因又向贾母笑道：“我瞧大妞妞这个小模样儿，又有这个聪明儿，只怕将来比凤姐姐还强呢，又比他认的字。”

iusedobehedydowager’sruleeveryyearoholda“cold罥dispellingpary”onhefirsofheelevenhmonh，geingeverybodyogeherodrinkandhavefunonhadaymorningqiaojiepaidherrespecsoheolddy“goodchild！”saidhedydowagerwihafondsmile“igoupearlyandallhisimei’vebeenwaiing，busofaronlyyourunclebaohascome”“payyourrespecsoyouruncle，miss，”prompedhenurseqiaojiecurseyedobaoyu，whoreurnedhergreeing“mamasaysna

ylihasbeeneachingmeoreadforseveralyears，”saidqiaojie，“bushedoubsifireallyknowmanycharacersshewansyouoesme，uncle，whenyouhaveime”“howmanycharacersdoyouknow？”askedbaoyu“morehanhreehousand”repliedqiaojie“i’vereadhebookoffilialwomen，andafornighagoisaredonhelivesofchasemaryrs”“i’sgoodwhengirlscanread，”puinhedydowager“buneedleworkismoreimporanforhem”“i’mlearninghaoofromna

yliu，”saidqiaojie“appliquework，chainsichandsooni’mnomuchgoodai，bui’mlearningsomedifferensiches”“asyouobviouslyknowhoworead，”observedbaoyu，“here’snoneedoesyouonha”qiaojiesaid：“iheardmamasayoohaourmaidxiaohongusedoworkforyou，unclebao；andafermamaookhershe’sneversenyouanohergirlinseadnowmamawansosendyouonecalledwu’erfromheliufamily，bushedoesn’knowwheheryou’llhaveherorno”“juslisenoher！”excimedbaoyuindeligh“yourmohercansendanyoneshelikeswhyaskmeifi’llhaveher？”heurnedosayughinglyohisgrandmoher，”“judgingbymyniece’slooksandinelligence，sheshouldoudoevencousinxifenginfuureespeciallyasshecanreadaswell”

刘姥姥第三次拜访荣国府，是因她听说贾母逝世了。当她看着凤姐骨瘦如柴，神情恍惚，心里也就悲惨起来，说：“我们屯乡里的人，不会病的，若一病了，就要求神许愿，从不知道吃药。我想姑奶奶的病别是撞着什么了罢？”哪里知道这句话倒合了凤姐的心意，挣扎着说：“姥姥，求你替我祷告。要用供献的银钱，我有。”便在手腕上退下一只金镯子来交她。刘姥姥道：“姑奶奶，不用那个。我们村庄人家许了愿，好了，花上几百钱就是了，那用这些？就是我替姑奶奶求去，也是许愿，等姑奶奶好了，要花什么，自己去花罢。”凤姐明知刘姥姥一片好心，不好勉强，只得留下，说：“姥姥，我的命交给你了！我的巧姐儿也是千灾百病的，也交给你了！”刘姥姥欣然答应，便说：“这么着，我看天气尚早，还赶的出城去，我就去了。明儿姑奶奶好了，再请还愿去”。

gra

yliuwenopayherhirdvisioherongmansion，forsheheardhahedydowagerhadpassedawaywhenshesawhowwasedxifenghadbecomeandhowunclearinhermind，gra

yliuwasgrievedosay，“wevilgersdon’fallillwhenwefeelpoorlywejusprayandmakepledgesohegods—weneverakemedicineidaresay，madam，hisillnessofyourswasbroughonbyevilspiris”hiscoincidedwihxifeng’sownview“gra

y，”shesaidwihaneffor“pleaseofferprayersforme！ifyouneedmoneyforasacrifice，ihavesome”sheslippedoffagoldenbraceleandheldiouoher“here’snocallforhis，madam，”expinedgra

yliu“whenwevilgersrecoverafermakingpledges，wejusspendafewhundredcopperswhaneedishereforallhis？ishallprayforyouandmakesomepledge，andonceyou’rebeeryoucanspendasmuchasyoulike”awarehashewasinearnes，xifengcouldnoinsis“gra

y，mylifeisinyourhands！”shesaid“andmylileqiaojieisalwaysailingoo；ienrusheroyouaswell”gra

yliuassenedreadilyandproposed，“inhiscase，asi’ssillearly，i’llgobacknow

whenyourecover，madam，youcangoohankhegods”

正当巧姐要被坏心叔叔贾环、狼心舅舅王仁、邪恶长兄贾芸骗卖给藩王时，刘姥姥又来贾府，平儿便将巧姐装做青儿模样，她自己只当送人，眼错不见，也跨上车一同随刘姥姥回家去了。那庄上也有几家富户，知道刘姥姥家来了贾府姑娘，谁不来瞧，都道是天上神仙，也有送菜果的，也有送野味的，倒也热闹。内中有个极富的人家姓周，家财巨万，良田千顷；只有一子，生得文雅清秀，年纪十四岁，他父母延师读书，新近科试，中了秀才。那日他母亲看见巧姐，心里羡慕，自想：“我是庄家人家，那里配得起这样世家小姐？”只顾呆想。刘姥姥早看出她的心事来，便说：“你的心事我知道了，我给你们做个媒罢。”刘姥姥惦记着贾府，叫板儿进城打听。那日恰好到宁荣街，只见有好些车轿在那里，板儿便在邻近打听。说是“宁荣两府复了官，赏还抄的家产，如今府里又要起来了”。板儿赶忙回去告诉他外祖母。刘姥姥听了得意，便叫人赶了两辆车，请巧姐平儿上车。巧姐等在刘姥姥家住熟了，反是依依不舍，更有青儿哭着，恨不能留下。刘姥姥见她不忍相别，便叫青儿跟了进城，一径直奔荣府而来。

iwasjusahecriicalmomenwhenqiaojiewasgoingobecheaedandsoldoaprinceinaborderprovincebyherbadunclejiahuan，cruel罥hearedunclewangrenandevilelderbroherjiayun，gra

yliucameagainoherongmansion；ping’erdressedqiaojieupolooklikeqing’er，sheherself，preendingobeseeingoffgra

yliu，slippedinohecarriageoowhennoonewaslooking；andsoheylefhemansionforgra

yliu’shomewhenhefewwellodofamiliesinhevilgeheardhaayoungdyfromhejiamansionwassayingwihgra

yliu，heyflockedoseeherandhoughheragoddesscomedownoearhsomesenpresensofvegeablesandfrui，ohersofgame，makingquieacommoion

herichesfamilyamonghem，namedzhou，weremillionairesowningavasesaeofgoodndheironlyson，ahandsome，inelligendoffoureenforwhomhisparenshadprocuredauor，hadjuspassedhecounyexaminaionwhenhismohersawqiaojieshehoughenviously，“counryfolklikeusaren’goodenoughforsuchayoungdyfromanoblehouse”gra

yliuguessedwhashewashinking“iknowwha’sinyoumind，”shesaid“lemeproposehemach”concernedoknowhowhejiafamilywasfaring，gra

yliusenban’eroownomakeinquiriesasihappened，hefoundrongningsreelinedwihcarriagesandsedanchairs，andpeopleinheneighbourhoodinformedhim，“heheadsofheningandrongmansionsaregeingbackheirofficialpossandheirconfiscaedproperyhey’regoingupinheworldagain”ban’erhurriedbackoellhisgrandmohergra

yliu，graifiedohearhis，hadwocarspreparedforhemandurgedqiaojieomounonebubynowshefelsoahomeherehashewasrelucanoleave，whileqing’erbursinoears，unwillingoparwihherseeinghis，gra

yliuoldqing’erogowihhem，andogeherheydrovesraighbackoherongmansion

如此遇巧，当巧姐和刘姥姥、平儿安然无恙地回来时，贾琏已从他父亲流放地回家来了。刘姥姥告诉贾琏有关巧姐的一切事情。然后贾琏趁便回报贾政说：“巧姐亲事，父亲太太都愿意给周家为媳。”贾政昨晚也知巧姐的始末，便说：“大老爷大太太作主就是了。

莫说村居不好，只要人家清白，孩子肯念书，能够上进。朝里那些官，难道都是城里的人么？”贾琏答应了“是”。然后，他就打发请了刘姥姥来，应了这门亲事。正是：势败休云贵，家亡莫论亲，偶因济村妇，巧得遇恩人。

isohappenedhajialianhadcomebackfromhisfaher’spceofexilewhenqiaojiewasbacksafeandsoundwihgra

yliuandping’ergra

yliuoldjialianeveryhingabouqiaojiehenjialianreporedojiazheng：“myparensarewillingomarryqiaojieohezhoufamily”jiazheng，whohadheardhepreviousnighofallhahadhappenedoher，said，“ha’sforheeldermaserandeldermisressodecideweshouldn’despisecounrypeople，providingheyarehonesfolkandheirsonissudiousandseemspromisingnoallheofficialsacourareciybred，arehey？”“no，sir，”agreedjialianhenhesenforgra

yliuoellherhemachwasagreedonruly：

whenforunefrowns，nobiliymeansnohing；whenahouseisruined，kinsmenurnunkind

becauseofhelpgivenbychanceogra

yliu，inimeofneedsheisluckyafriendofind