若是还有生的，再炸上两块，咸浸浸的，吃粥有味 儿。
“If there's any left not yet cooked, I'd like a few slices fried, because being salty it goes well with porridge.
那汤虽好，就只不对吃稀粥。”
The soup doesn't, although it's good.”
凤姐听了，连忙答应， 命人去厨房传话。
Xifeng promised to see to this at once and had the order passed on to the kitchen.
这里贾母又向王夫人笑道：“我打发人找你来，不为别的，初二日是凤丫头的生日。
Meantime the Lady Dowager told Lady Wang, “I'll tell you why I sent for you.
初二日是凤丫头的生日，上两年我原就想着给他做生日，偏到跟前就有大事，混过去了。
In previous years, though I've always meant to do something about it, something or other has always cropped up which has prevented me from celebrating it properly.
贾母笑道："我想往年不拘谁作生日，都是各自送各自的礼，这个也俗了，也觉很生分的似的。
‘Well now, this is what I have been thinking,' said Grandmother Jia. ‘In other years, no matter whose birthday it's been, we've each of us given our individual presents.
贾母笑道："我想着，咱们也学那小家子大家凑分子，多少尽着这钱去办，你道好玩不好玩?"
‘I think we ought to imitate what they do in poorer families,' said Grandmother Jia. ‘Everyone subscribes something towards a common pool, then, when it's all been collected, you spend it all on some treat or other, depending on how much you have.
What do you think of the idea?”
贾母听说，益发高兴起来，忙命人去请 薛姨妈、邢夫人等，又叫请姑娘们并宝玉，那府里珍儿媳妇并赖大家的等有头脸管事的愈妇也都叫了来。
Hearing this, the Lady Dowager in high spirits at once gave orders to invite over Aunt Xue, Lady Xing, the girls and Baoyu, as well as Jia Zhen's wife Madam You from the other mansion, and the wives of the chief stewards such as Lai Da.
众丫头、婆子见贾母十分高兴也都高兴，忙忙的各自分头去请的请，传的传，没顿饭时的工夫，老的，少的，上上下下的，乌压压挤了一屋子。
Infected by her enthusiasm, the maids and older women-servants went scurrying off in all directions to summon or invite.
只薛姨妈和贾母对坐，邢夫人、王夫人只坐在房门前两张椅子上，宝钗姊妹等五、六个人坐在炕上，宝玉坐在贾母杯前，地下满满的站了一地。
Aunt Xue and the Lady Dowager had the seats of honour; Lady Xing and Lady Wang had two chairs by the door; Baochai and five or six other girls sat on the kang; Baoyu sat at his grandmother's knee; and the rest stood, crowding the floor.
贾母忙命拿几个小杌子来，给赖大母亲等几个有体面、年高的嬷嬷坐了。
The Lady Dowager ordered stools to be fetched for Lai Da's mother and a few of the older and most highly thought of nurses;
贾府风俗，年高伏侍过父母的家人，比年轻的主子还有体面，所以尤氏凤姐等只管地下站着，那赖大的母亲 等三、四个老嬷嬷告了罪，都坐在小杌子上了。
for it was the family custom to show more respect to domestics who had served the older generation than to the sons and daughters of the house.Hence Madam You and Xifeng remained standing while, after a show of declining, Lai Da's mother and three or four other old nurses sat down.
贾母笑着把方才一席话说与众人听了，众人谁不凑这趣儿?再也有和凤姐好的”情愿这样的；也有畏惧凤姐的，巴不得来奉承的。
Then the Lady Dowager, beaming, announced her plan.All fell in readily with the novel suggestion.Those on good terms with Xifeng liked the idea, those afraid of her were glad of a chance to please her;
况且都是拿的出来的，所以一闻此言，都欣然应诺。
and since everyone could afford it they agreed with alacrity.
贾母先道:"我出二十两。”
The Lady Dowager made the first contribution, promising to give twenty taels.
邢、王二夫人笑道:"我们不敢和老太太并肩，自然矮一等，每人十六两罢了。"
You-shi and Li Wan, decreasing their call by a like amount, came next: ‘Twelve taels.”
贾母忙向李纨道："你寡妇失业的，那里还拉你出这个钱，我替你出了罢。”
‘We can't have you paying out that sort of money,' Grandmother Jia said to Li Wan, ‘―a young widow with no mean of her own.
I'll pay yours for you.”
凤姐忙笑道:"老太太别高兴，且算一算帐再揽事。
“Don't get carried away, madam,” warned Xifeng with a chuckle.“First count the cost.
老太太身上已有两分呢，这会子又替大嫂子出十二两，说着高兴，过会子回想又心疼了，过后儿又说："都是为凤丫头花了钱”使个巧法子，哄着我拿出三、四倍来暗里补上，我还作梦呢。”
You still have two more shares to pay, yet now you're offering to give twelve taels for her.You're in a good mood at the moment, but presently you may regret it and complain,‘So much spent on that minx Xifeng!'Then you'll play some clever trick to make me part unknowingly with three or four times the amount.”
说的众人都笑了，贾母笑道："依你怎么样呢?"
“What do you propose then?”asked the Lady Dowager amid general laughter.
闲取乐偶攒金庆寿 不了情暂撮土为香
To Kill Time Money Is Raised to Celebrate a Birthday Incense Is Burned on the Ground to Undying Love
话说王夫人因见贾母那日在大观园不过着了些风寒，不是什么大病，请医生吃了两剂药也就好了，便放了心，因命凤姐来，吩咐他预备给贾政带去的东西。
The Lady Dowager was not really ill but had simply caught a chill that day in the Garden.Knowing that a visit from the doctor and some medicine had set her right, Lady Wang stopped worrying and sent for Xifeng whom she told to prepare some things to be taken to Jia Zheng.
正商议着，只见贾母打发人来请，王夫人忙引着凤姐儿过来。
While they were discussing this, the old lady summoned them and they both hurried over.
贾母道："今日可大好了。
“Much better,” replied the Lady Dowager.