Narrator

冬天到了，天气冷极了，刘姥姥的家里已经三天没有米了。

Dōngtiān dào le, tiānqì lěng jíle, Liú lǎolao de jiālǐ yǐjīng sāntiān méiyǒu mǐ le.

Winter came, and it was bitterly cold. Granny Liu's family had been without rice for three days.

Granny Liu

米缸空了，柴也快烧完了。再想不出办法，全家都要挨饿。

Mǐgāng kōng le, chái yě kuài shāo wán le. Zài xiǎngbùchū bànfǎ, quánjiā dōu yào ái'è.

The rice jar is empty and the firewood is almost gone. If I can't think of something, the whole family will go hungry.

Gouer

丈母娘，别想了。我们没有钱，也没有亲戚可以借。孩子还在哭，我真的没办法！

Zhàngmǔniáng, biéxiǎng le. Wǒmen méiyǒu qián, yě méiyǒu qīnqī kěyǐ jiè. Háizi hái zài kū, wǒ zhēnde méi bànfǎ!

Mother-in-law, stop thinking. We have no money and no relatives to borrow from, the child is still crying, and I truly don't know what to do!

Granny Liu

别叹气，狗儿！我这把老骨头，还有一个主意没有用呢。

Bié tànqì, Gǒu'ér! Wǒ zhè bǎ lǎogútou, háiyǒu yí gè zhǔyì méiyǒu yòng ne.

Stop sighing, Gouer! This old body of mine still has one idea it hasn't tried.

Gouer

什么主意？您又不认识什么有钱人，谁会给我们米？

Shénme zhǔyì? Nín yòu bú rènshi shénme yǒuqiánrén, shuí huì gěi wǒmen mǐ?

What idea? You don't know any rich people, so who would give us rice?

Granny Liu

很多年以前，你爷爷跟城里贾府的王家认过亲戚。这件事，你难道忘了吗？

Hěnduōnián yǐqián, nǐ yéyé gēn chénglǐ Jiǎ fǔ de Wáng jiā rèn guò qīnqī. Zhèjiàn shì, nǐ nándào wàng le ma?

Many years ago, your grandfather claimed kinship with the Wang side of the Jia family in the city. Have you really forgotten?

Gouer

那么有钱的人家，怎么会记得我们这种穷亲戚呢？

Nàme yǒuqián de rénjiā, zěnme huì jìde wǒmen zhèzhǒng qióng qīnqī ne?

A family that rich? How would they remember poor relatives like us?

Granny Liu

穷人也有嘴，嘴就是用来说话的。我去问一问，总比坐在这儿挨饿好。

Qióngrén yě yǒu zuǐ, zuǐ jiùshì yònglái shuōhuà de. Wǒ qù wènyíwèn, zǒng bǐ zuòzài zhèr ái'è hǎo.

Poor people have mouths too, and mouths are for talking. I'll go and ask. It beats sitting here starving.

Gouer

可是您从来没进过那样的大门。那里的人都很厉害，说不定会笑话您。

Kěshì nín cónglái méijìn guò nàyàng de dàmén. Nàlǐ de rén dōu hěn lìhài, shuōbúdìng huì xiàohuà nín.

But you've never gone through a gate like that. Those people are sharp, and they might laugh at you.

Granny Liu

笑话就笑话，让他们笑一笑，说不定还会给我们一点儿米。板儿，来，跟外婆进城！

Xiàohuà jiù xiàohuà, ràng tāmen xiàoyíxiào, shuōbúdìng háihuì gěi wǒmen yìdiǎnr mǐ. Bǎn'ér, lái, gēn wàipó jìnchéng!

Then let them laugh! If they have a good laugh, maybe they'll give us a little rice. Banger, come, we're going to the city with Granny!

Narrator

第二天，刘姥姥带着外孙板儿走了很远的路。终于来到了贾府的大门口。

Dì'èrtiān, Liú lǎolao dài zhe wàisūn Bǎn'ér zǒu le hěn yuǎn de lù. Zhōngyú láidào le Jiǎ fǔ de dàménkǒu.

The next day, Granny Liu took her grandson Banger and walked a long way, and at last they reached the gate of the Jia mansion.

Granny Liu

板儿，别乱跑，这扇门比咱们的房子还高，门口又有这么多人。我的腿都软了。

Bǎn'ér, bié luànpǎo, zhè shànmén bǐ zánmen de fángzi hái gāo, ménkǒu yòu yǒu zhème duōrén. Wǒ de tuǐ dōu ruǎn le.

Banger, don't run off. This gate is taller than our house, and there are so many people at the door. My legs have gone weak.

Zhou Rui's Wife

站住，你们是从哪儿来的？在这儿找谁？

Zhànzhù, nǐmen shìcóng nǎr lái de? Zài zhèr zhǎo shuí?

Stop right there. Where are you from, and who are you looking for?

Granny Liu

大姐，我是乡下来的刘姥姥，请问周瑞家的在不在？我是她的老亲戚。

Dàjiě, wǒ shì xiāng xiàlái de Liú lǎolao, qǐngwèn Zhōuruì jiā de zài bù zài? Wǒ shì tā de lǎo qīnqī.

Big sister, I'm Granny Liu from the countryside. Is Zhou Rui's wife here? I'm an old relative of hers.

Zhou Rui's Wife

我就是周瑞家的！哎呀，刘姥姥，这么多年不见，我都快认不出您来了！

Wǒ jiùshì Zhōuruì jiā de! Āiyā, Liú lǎolao, zhème duōnián bú jiàn, wǒ dōu kuài rènbùchū nín lái le!

I am Zhou Rui's wife! Goodness, Granny Liu, it's been so many years that I almost didn't know you!

Granny Liu

谢天谢地，观音菩萨保佑我们，今天我是特地来求你帮忙的。

Xiètiānxièdì, Guānyīn Púsà bǎoyòu wǒmen, jīntiān wǒ shì tèdìlái qiú nǐ bāngmáng de.

Thank heavens, may the Goddess of Mercy bless us. I came here today especially to ask for your help.

Zhou Rui's Wife

现在家里的事都是凤姐管着，我带你去见她。不过她又聪明又忙，你说话要小心一点。

Xiànzài jiālǐ de shì dōu shì Fèngjiě guǎnzhe, wǒ dàinǐqù jiàn tā. Búguò tā yòu cōngming yòu máng, nǐ shuōhuà yào xiǎoxīn yìdiǎn.

These days Fengjie runs the household. I'll take you to see her, but she's clever and busy, so be careful what you say.

Granny Liu

放心，好听的话我最会说了。我在地里对着白菜说了三十年呢！

Fàngxīn, hǎotīng dehuà wǒ zuìhuì shuō le. Wǒ zài dìlǐ duì zhe báicài shuō le sānshínián ne!

Don't worry, sweet talk is my specialty. I've been talking to my cabbages in the field for thirty years!

Xifeng

哪一位是刘姥姥？周姐姐说您是从很远的地方走来的，快请坐，先喝口热茶。

Nǎyíwèi shì Liú lǎolao? Zhōujiějie shuō nín shìcóng hěnyuǎn de dìfang zǒulái de, kuài qǐng zuò, xiān hēkǒu rèchá.

Which one is Granny Liu? Sister Zhou says you walked here from far away. Please sit, and have some hot tea first.

Granny Liu

凤姐奶奶，您真漂亮，就像画儿里走出来的人！我这个乡下老太婆给您磕头了！

Fèngjiě nǎinǎi, nín zhēn piàoliang, jiù xiàng huàr lǐ zǒu chūlái de rén! Wǒ zhège xiāngxià lǎotàipó gěi nín kētóu le!

Lady Feng, you are so beautiful, like someone who stepped out of a painting! This old country woman kowtows to you!

Xifeng

快别磕头，您年纪这么大，我怎么受得起？来人，给老人家倒茶！

Kuài bié kētóu, nín niánjì zhème dà, wǒ zěnme shòudé qǐ? Lái rén, gěi lǎorénjiā dào chá!

Please don't kowtow. You're so much older than I am, how could I accept that? Someone bring the old lady some tea!

Granny Liu

凤姐，我说话直。家里已经没有吃的了，孩子也饿着。我实在没办法，才厚着脸皮来。

Fèngjiě, wǒ shuōhuà zhí. Jiālǐ yǐjīng méiyǒu chī de le, háizi yě è zhe. Wǒ shízài méi bànfǎ, cái hòuzheliǎnpí lái.

Lady Feng, I speak plainly. There's nothing left to eat at home and the child is hungry. I had no other choice, so I came with a thick skin.

Xifeng

这样啊……我明白了。周姐姐，去把银子拿来。

Zhèyàng a… Wǒ míngbai le. Zhōujiějie, qù bǎ yínzi nálái.

I see... I understand. Sister Zhou, please go and fetch the silver.

Xifeng

这里是二十两银子，先去买米，买棉衣，再给板儿买一点儿点心吃。

Zhèlǐ shì èrshíliǎng yínzi, xiānqù mǎi mǐ, mǎi miányī, zài gěi Bǎn'ér mǎi yìdiǎnr diǎnxinchī.

Here are twenty taels of silver. First buy rice and warm clothes, then get some treats for Banger.

Granny Liu

二十两……我活了七十多年，还没见过这么多银子呢。

Èrshíliǎng… Wǒhuó le qīshí duōnián, hái méijiàn guò zhème duō yínzi ne.

Twenty taels... I've lived more than seventy years and never seen this much silver.

Granny Liu

凤姐，您就是活菩萨，我拿什么来谢您才好？

Fèngjiě, nín jiùshì huópúsà, wǒ ná shénme láixiè nín cái hǎo?

Lady Feng, you are a living Buddha. What can I possibly give you in thanks?

Xifeng

不用谢，您多说几句有意思的话，我就很高兴了。

Bú yòngxiè, nín duō shuō jǐjù yǒuyìsi dehuà, wǒ jiù hěn gāoxìng le.

No need to thank me. Say a few more interesting things, and I'll be happy.

Granny Liu

有意思的话有的是！我们乡下的公鸡会唱歌，鸭子还会跳舞。您想先听哪一个？

Yǒuyìsi dehuà yǒudeshì! Wǒmen xiāngxià de gōngjī huì chànggē, yāzi háihuì tiàowǔ. Nín xiǎng xiān tīng nǎ yí gè?

I've got plenty of those! In our village the roosters sing and the ducks even dance. Which would you like to hear first?

Xifeng

好，下次再听，我要留着慢慢笑。我们老太太最爱听乡下的新鲜事，你明年秋天再来吧。

Hǎo, xiàcì zài tīng, wǒyào liú zhe mànmàn xiào. Wǒmen lǎotàitai zuì'ài tīng xiāngxià de xīnxiānshì, nǐ míngnián qiūtiān zàilái ba.

Fine, next time. I want to save it and laugh slowly. Our old lady loves fresh tales from the country, so come again next autumn.

Granny Liu

一定来，等我的瓜熟了，我带最大的瓜和最新鲜的菜来谢您！

Yídìng lái, děng wǒ de guāshú le, wǒdài zuìdà de guā hé zuì xīnxiān de cài lái xiè nín!

I will! When my melons are ripe, I'll bring the biggest melons and the freshest vegetables to thank you!

Xifeng

好，不过刘姥姥，您别忘了，这个园子里的人可不都像我这么好说话。

Hǎo, búguò Liú lǎolao, nín biéwàngle, zhège yuánzi lǐ de rén kěbù dōu xiàng wǒ zhème hǎo shuōhuà.

Good. But don't forget, Granny Liu: not everyone in this household is as easy to talk to as I am.