这会子他们起诗社，能用几个钱，你就不管了？
You encourage them to start a poetry dub, but as soon as the question of money arises (and incidentally, how much money is involved?” ―it can't surely be very much), you're not interested: it has nothing to do with you!
Now, you have a monthly allowance of ten taels.
老太太、太太罢了，原是老封君。
The old lady and Lady Wang have their titled status of course,
老太太、太太罢了，原是老封君，你一个月十两银子的月钱，比我们多两倍子，老太太、太太还说你‘寡妇失业’的，可怜，不够用，又有个小子，足足的又添了十两银子，和老太太、太太平等，又给你园子里的地，各人取租子；年终分年例，你又是上上分儿。
Excluding Grandmother and Aunt Wang - and they are, after all, ladies of rank and title―that's twice as much as any of the rest of us gets.
Yet Grandma and Auntie go on about how poor you are: “poor young widow I” “no means of her own!
Oh yes, and be-cause you've got a son, you get another ten taels a month on top of that, which actually makes you equal with Grandma and Auntie Wang.
And you've got your land in the Garden, the best plot there.
It's down in the tithe-book for the highest tithing.
And you haven't got a big establishment.
又给你园子地，各人取租钱。
and on top of that you've been given land in the Garden farm and are paid rent,
年终分年例， 又是上上分儿。
apart from the largest share in the annual bonuses.
你娘儿们主子奴才共总没有十个人，吃的穿的仍旧是大官中的，通共算起来，也有四五百银子。
There are less than ten in your household, counting the servants, and your food and clothing still come from the common fund.
这会子你就每年拿出一二百两银子来陪他们玩玩，能几年的限?
Even if you were to spend one or two hundred a year out of that on amusements for the girls like this poetry thing, it wouldn't be for many years.
他们各人出了阁，难道还要你赔不成?
When they marry, you won't be the one to provide their dowries.
这会子你怕花钱，调唆他们来闹我，我乐得去吃一个河涸海干，我还通不知道呢!”
Yet here you are, so afraid of spending a cent, you've put them up to coming to pester me.I've a good mind not to take the hint but just go and eat up everything you've got.”
李纨笑道:"你们听听，我说了一句话，他就疯了似的，说了两车无赖的泥腿市俗家常打细算盘分斤拨两的话出来。
“Listen to her!”cried Li Wan laughingly.“I say one word and the crazy thing spews out two cartloads of shameless talk like a real dirty swindler and tight-fisted money-grubber.
这东西亏他托生在诗书大宦名门之家做小姐，出了嫁又是这样，他还是这么着；若是生在贫寒之家小门小户的，作个小子，还不知怎么下作贫嘴恶舌的呢!天下人都被你算计了去!
This creature was lucky enough to be born the daughter of a family of scholar-officials and to marry into a family like that too, yet she still carries on in this way.If she'd been the son of a poor family, there's no knowing what dirty language she'd have used.She'd have tried to swindle everyone on earth.
气的我只要给平儿打报不平儿。
I was so furious, I'd have taken up the cudgels for Pinger
忖度了半日，好容易'狗长尾巴尖儿'的好日子，又怕老太太心里不受用， 因此没来，究竟气还未平。
Then I thought it over for a bit and decided not to.
After all, it was your birthday, and as we know, “every dog must have his day”.
Also I was afraid that if I made a fuss I might upset Grandmother.
给平儿拾鞋也不要，你们两个只该换一个过子才是。”
You aren't good enough to pick up Pinger's shoes.The two of you ought to change places.”
说的众人都笑了。
It made the girls laugh to hear Li Wan speaking with such unaccustomed heat.
凤姐忙笑道:"竟不是为诗为画来找我的，这脸子竟是为给平儿来报仇的：我竟不承望平儿有这么一位仗腰子的人。
‘Oh, now I understand!” said Xi-feng, joining in their laughter. ‘It wasn't about poetry or painting that you came to see me: it was revenge for Patience you were after.
平姑娘，过来，我当着你大奶奶、姑娘们替你赔个不是，担待我‘酒后无德’罢！”
Here, Patience!
Miss Patience!
Let me apologize to you in front of Mrs Zhu and the young ladies.
I “did evil in my cups”.
Please forgive me.”
说着，众人又都笑起来了。
The others laughed.
快拿了钥匙叫你主子开了楼房找东西去。”
Hurry up and fetch the key now, and ask your mistress to open the storeroom for us.”
凤姐儿笑道：“好嫂子，你且同他们去园子里去。
‘My dear good Wan, please take these girls back to the Garden,' said Xi-feng.
我才要把这米帐和他们算一算，那边大太太又打发人来叫，又不知有什么话说，须得过去走一趟。
‘I've got the rice accounts to go over; I've got to see Lady Xing about something (1 don't know what, but she's just sent over to say that she wants me);
还有年下你们添补的衣服，还没打点给他们做去。”
and I've got the New Year's clothes to see about.I have to find out what everyone wants and get the orders placed―'
李纨笑道:"这些事我都不管，你只把我的事完了我好歇着去，省得这些姑娘们、小姐们闹我。”
“Never mind those other things,' rejoined Li Wan.“Just settle my business first so that I can go home and rest and these young ladies will stop bothering me.
况且误了别人年下的衣裳无碍，他姊妹们若误了，却是你的责任，老太太岂不怪你不管闲事，这一句现成话也不说？
Yet now you want to kill me with overwork!Besides, it doesn't matter if other people's clothes are late, but you're responsible for these young ladies' being ready on time.If they're not, the old lady will scold you for not seeing to it or at least reminding me.