Chapter 322 - I can explain it all! (2/2)
However, Zhang Ye clearly did not plan on giving them a chance. He looked down from the stage and said, “Everyone might not feel uncomfortable after reading chapter 81, but in my view, the person who carried on the story in chapter 81 has fallen short of Cao Xueqin’s original intent.” He emphasized, “It’s completely unbearable!”
Senior Zhou found it strange. “Is it that serious?”
“Unbearable?” Senior Song also felt Teacher Zhang Ye’s words were too harsh. She found it quite matching.
Zhang Ye said, “Because in chapter 81, the content began a fresh start. According to the structure, chapter 82 should be a brand new unit, but here, we begin a new unit from chapter 81. It ignores the previous unit’s foreshadowing from chapter 72 to 80. This is quite a terrifying plot. And what’s written in there? Without elaborating, just think, was there any raid of Prospect Garden? Did Skybright die and was Fangguan chased out? Did You-s.h.i.+ say she was going upstairs, but someone below told her not to do so, because that was where they were helping the Zhen family hide their wealth!?”
The students all nodded their heads. That all existed.
“This unit’s plot is very terrifying.” Zhang Ye then pointed to the screen and said, “But do you see what happened in chapter 81? It did not end the development of a unit. It starts all over again, and is called ‘Four young ladies go fis.h.i.+ng and divine the future’. They are completely laidback. The beauties are in Prospect Garden fis.h.i.+ng, as if nothing had happened.” He then laughed. It was a helpless laugh. “The matters of the raid were not written. The death was not mentioned. It was as if the tragic events completely disappeared. Not only was the plot not further developed, Jia Baoyu even became a good child. ‘Baoyu received a homily and was re-enrolled in the Family School’. Well, although it wrote that Jia Baoyu was initially reluctant, and after the teachings of the private tutor, Jia Baoyu not only began to study the books of the Sages, he even began to learn eight-legged essays. Hur Hur, I want to ask you. Is this still the Jia Baoyu from the first 80 chapters?”
Some students said, “People do change.”
“That’s right. This pa.s.sage seems alright?” Senior Zhou said.
Zhang Ye shook his head. “People do change, but the changes can’t be that drastic. Furthermore there was no foundations foreshadowing this. Jia Baoyu was a person very opposed to wealth gained through official means. That was expressly written! He was willing to break decorum with a young female who he had good ties with, just because of his values. He clashed with Xue Baochai and s.h.i.+ Xiangyun and this was all written clearly in the first 80 chapters. Jia Baoyu only respected Lin Daiyu, why? This was because Lin Daiyu never encouraged him to take the Imperial Examinations to make a name of himself ever since he was young. Because of this, he deeply respected Lin Daiyu. However, after chapter 80, Jia Baoyu completely changed. He diligently entered a private school and studied eight-legged essays. He went from never liking it to liking it somewhat. What’s even more odd is that Lin Daiyu also changed. What do you see Lin Daiyu say in the chapters after chapter 80? She was very supporting of him doing eight-legged essays!”
The projected screen changed.
Lin Daiyu’s original words appeared.
She said the following eight-legged essay: “Remember thinking that some were quite well thought out and sensibly written. One of the two were even quite subtle and had a certain delicate charm. They were rather above my head at the time, but I still enjoyed reading them. It’s silly to run them all down. Anyway, I think if you want to get on in life, this is quite an admirable way of doing it.”
Zhang Ye shook his head and said, “Is this Lin Daiyu’s words? So it’s not really me having nothing better to do. Upon seeing this, I find it totally unacceptable. This should not be Cao Xueqin’s text for chapter 81. Of course, after chapter 81, it becomes even more ridiculous. Does everyone remember the part where Baoyu extols feudal virtues to Qiaojie. Does anyone have an impression? Isn’t it frightening? Qiaojie is his paternal cousin’s daughter. She was reading ‘Lives of n.o.ble Women Present and Past’ at that time. What sort of book was that? It is a book that is filled with dregs that extol feudal virtues. What about Jia Baoyu? Not only did he not object to her reading such a book, he even begin reviewing the content of the book as an elder to her. I’m not sure if you have an impression of a certain pa.s.sage. It talks about ‘Lady Cao Cutting Her Nose’. In the period of the Three Kingdoms, there was woman who was married to Cao, so she took on the surname of Cao. After her husband’s death, she wanted to maintain her chast.i.ty. That is good and all, but she went one step further. She wanted to express it. Hence, she cut her hair, becoming ugly. As such, she would deter suitors. She said she was determined not to remarry. Was it enough to cut her hair? Nope! This woman was very strange. She even used a knife to cut off her own ears!”
“Aiyah!”
“Man!”
“Is it that tragic?”
The students present found it horrendous.
“This gruesomeness should be frightening enough. So, this should be enough, right? Will you call it a day? No, she thinks it’s not enough. She was determined to demonstrate her chast.i.ty. She used a knife to cut her nose off.” Zhang Ye said, “I see some people closing their eyes. Right, closing your eyes shut is right. If you want to imagine it, you need to close your eyes.”
Many Peking University students laughed out. “Hur Hur Hur.”
Zhang Ye threw his hands up, “But this event was recorded down and was taken as a role model, and recorded in ‘Lives of n.o.ble Women Present and Past’, but what about Jia Baoyu? In the book, Jia Baoyu was very touched. He even praised ‘Lady Cao Cutting Her Nose’ in front of Qiaojie. I do not know what everyone feels when reading this, but it gives me the chills! Is this still the same Jia Baoyu that was written by Cao Xueqin? This is a far cry from Cao Xueqin’s writing of chapter 81!”
No one refuted.
The logical errors in here had been mentioned before by this world’s Redologists.
Zhang Ye said indifferently, “In Redology research, people have questioned this part. This is also why ‘Dream of the Red Chamber’ isn’t easily discussed. Due to all sorts of issues that cannot be avoided or explained, however…” Zhang Ye boasted, “I can explain it all!”
Everyone burst into an uproar.
You can explain it all?
Weren’t those words too absolute in manner?
You really can boast without shame!
Those from the world of literature were at a loss as to what to say. Too arrogant!
Zhang Ye said, “For example, the problem with Jia Baoyu I just mentioned. According to my explanation, it makes sense, right? As after the first 80 chapters on the whole, be it the version currently sold on the market, or ancient ma.n.u.scripts, they are no longer Cao Xueqin’s original intent. It was continued by someone else! Hence, Jia Baoyu presents two personalities before and after. This is no longer a surprise because it was written by two different authors!”
Silence!
Utter silence!
According to Zhang Ye’s line of thought, this logical problem could indeed be explained!
Everyone was lost in thought, especially those from the world of literature. Their faces did not look good and were silent for the time being. The information Zhang Ye provided was too much! No one could digest it immediately!
<script>