内有一个张德辉，年过六十，自幼在薛家当铺内揽总，家内也有二三千金的过活，今岁也要回家，明春方来。
One of those leaving was Zhang Dehui, a man of over sixty who had managed the Xues' pawnshop since he was young and was now worth two or three thousand taels.Not wanting to return before spring he said:
因说起:"今年纸札、香料短少，明年必是贵的。
‘There's a great shortage of stationery and perfumed goods just now,' he said. ‘These things are sure to fetch high prices next year.
明年先打发大小儿来当铺内照管照管，赶端阳节前我顺 路贩些纸札、香扇来卖。
I propose to send my eldest son here to see to the shop after New Year and on my way back purchase sacrificial paper and scented fans to sell before the Dragon-Boat Festival.
况且我长了这么大，文又不文，武又不武，虽说做买卖，究竟戥子、算盘从没拿过，地土风俗、远近道路又不知道，不如也打点几个本钱，和张德辉逛一年来。
Besides, all these years I've never taken to books or soldiering, and although I'm in business I've never handled a balance or abacus and know nothing either about local customs and different parts of the country.I may as well take some capital and travel around with Zhang Dehui for a year.
不如也打点几个本钱和张德辉逛一年来，赚钱也罢，不赚钱也罢，且躲躲羞去。
Why don't I get a bit of capital together and spend a year or so travelling around with Zhang De-hui?”It won't matter much whether I make any money or not; the main thing is that it will get me away from my disgrace;
二则逛逛山水也是好的。"
I can at any rate hide my face for a while and enjoy some sight-seeing at the same time.”
心内主意已定，至酒席散后，便和气平心与张德辉说知，命他等一二日，一同前往。
Having made up his mind to this, he took Zhang aside after the feast, explained his plan, and asked him to wait a couple of days so that they could travel together.
晚间薛蟠告诉了他母亲。
That evening he told his mother.
晚间薛蟠告诉他母亲，薛姨妈听了，虽是喜欢，但又恐他在外生事，花了本钱倒是末事。
That evening he told his mother.Aunt Xue's initial reaction was one of pleasure, but this quickly gave way to misgivings.
It was not that she attached much importance to the loss of a little capital; she was concerned about the scrapes he might get into away from home.
只说：“天天又说我不知世务，这个也不知，那个也不学；如今我发狠把那些没要紧的都断了，如今要成人立事，学习买卖，又不准我了。
“Yet now that I've resolved to stop fooling around, come to grips with life and establish myself by learning to run the business, you won't let me.What do you expect me to do?
我又不是个丫头，把我关在家里，何日是个了手？
I'm not a girl, to be shut up at home all the time: you'll have to let me out some time or other.
我就一时半刻有不好的去处，自然他说我，劝我。
He'll naturally point it out if I make the least blunder.
就是东西贵贱行情，他是知道的，自然色色问他，何等顺利，倒不叫我去!过两日我不告诉家里，私自打 点了一走，明年发了财回来，那时才知道我呢。”
And he knows the market so well that his advice will be most useful to me.Yet you won't let me go!
All right, I'll slip away some day without telling you, and come back next year with my fortune made.
Just wait and see if I don't!”
薛姨妈听他如此说，因和宝钗商议。
Then Aunt Xue discussed the matter with her daughter.
宝钗笑道:"哥哥果然要经历正事，正是好的了。
“If my brother's really serious about working properly, that's good,” said Baochai.
他若是真改了，是他一生的福，若不改，妈妈也不能又有别的法子。
If he is really going to reform, then this experience may prove a life-long blessing.
If he is not, I don't see that there is very much left that you can do.
这么大人了，若只管怕他不 知世路，出不得门，干不得事，今年关在家里，明年还是这个样儿。
Pan is a grown man now, Mamma.If you maintain that he is too ignorant of the world to be allowed out into it, you are not going to make him any less ignorant by keeping him shut up indoors.
二则他出去了，左右没了助兴的人，也没了倚仗 的人，到了外头，谁还怕谁，有了的吃，没了的饿着，举眼无靠。
Besides, once he's gone there'll be no one to egg him on or to back him up, and he won't be able to throw his weight about.If he has food, he can eat; if not, he'll just have to go hungry.
商议已定，一宿无话。
Having agreed on this they retired for the night.
至次日，薛姨妈命人请了张德辉来，在书房中命薛蟠款 待酒饭，自己在后廊下，隔着窗子，向里千言万语嘱托张德辉照管薛蟠。
Next day Aunt Xue had Zhang De-hui invited round once more, and while he was being entertained by Xue Pan in the study, stationed herself in the loggia at the back
张德辉满口应承，吃过饭告辞，又回说:"十四日是上好出门的日子，大世兄即刻打点行李，雇下骡子，十 四一早就长行了。”
Zhang De-hui gave vigorous assurances of good intent, and having finished his meal, stood up and took his leave, stopping on his way out to add a few words to Xue Pan about arrangements for their departure:‘The almanac says the fourteenth is the best day for travelling.
I should start packing and hiring mules straight away if I were you, Mr Xue, so that we can make a start first thing on the fourteenth.”
薛蟠喜之不尽，将此话告诉了薛姨妈。
Xue Pan, delighted at the prospect of getting away so soon, hastened to relay this to his mother.
薛姨妈便和宝钗、香菱并两个老年的嬷嬷连日打点行装，派下薛蟠之乳父老苍头一名，当年谙事旧仆二名，外有薛蟠随 身常使小厮二人，主仆一共六人，雇了三辆大车，单拉行李使物，又雇了四个长行骡子。
who promptly set to work with Baochai, Xiangling and two old nurses to prepare his things.An old steward, the husband of Xue Pan's wet-nurse, was to accompany him with two other experienced old bondsmen as well as two of the pages who usually attended him, making a party of six.
Three carts were hired for the luggage, and four sturdy mules.
薛蟠自骑一匹家内养的铁青大走骡，外备一匹坐马，诸事完毕，薛姨妈、宝钗等连夜劝戒之言，自不必备说。
Xue Pan himself planned to ride on a mule from his own stables―a large, sturdy animal with an iron-grey coat.
He also planned to take a saddle-horse of his own as an alternative mount.
When all other preparations had been completed, Aunt Xue and Bao-chai devoted the remaining evenings to exhortation and admonishment of the prospective traveller.