说着便有两个年老的携了宝玉的手走出去了。
With that, two of the older men led Baoyu out.
只听外面答应了两声，早进来了三四个大汉，打千儿请安。
and three or four sturdy fellows who had been waiting outside came in and fell on one knee to pay their respects.
贾政看时，认得是宝玉的奶母之子，名唤李贵。
Recognizing Li Gui, the son of Baoyu's old wet-nurse,
贾政看时，是宝玉奶姆的儿子名唤李贵的，因向他道：“你们成日家跟他上学，他到底念了些什么书！
Jia Zheng recognized the foremost one as Li Gui, the son of Bao-yu's old wet-nurse, Nannie Li, and addressed himself to him. 'You have attended Bao-yu during all his lessons in the past.
What precisely has he been doing?”
等我闲一闲，先揭了你的皮，再和那不长进的东西算帐！”
Wait until I have a little time to spare: I'll have your hide off first and then settle accounts with that good-for-nothing son of mine!”
吓的李贵忙双膝跪下，摘了帽子，碰头有声，连连答应 “是”，又回说: “哥儿已念到第三本《诗经》，什么’呦呦鹿鸣，荷叶浮萍’小的不敢撒谎。”
'Sir!” Li Gui sank terrified to his knees, snatched off his cap, and knocked the ground several times with his forehead. 'Master Bao has read the first three books of the Poetry Classic, sir, up to the part that goesHear the happy bleeding deerGrousing in the vagrant meads…That's the truth, sir.
I wouldn't tell a lie.”
说的满坐哄然大笑起来，贾政也掌不住笑了。
This unintentional travesty of the original line set the whole room in a roar of laughter.
因说道：“那怕再念三十本《诗经》，也是‘掩耳盗铃’，哄人而已。
'If he read thirty books of the Poetry Classic,' said Jia Zheng, ‘it would still be tomfoolery.
No doubt he hopes to deceive others with this sort of thing, but he does not deceive me.
你去请学里太爷的安，就说我说的：什么《诗经》、古文，一概不用虚应故事，只是先把《四书》一气讲明背熟，是最要紧的。”
“Give my compliments to the school principal, and tell him from me that such works as the Book of Songs and classical essays are a waste of time.He'd far better expound the Four Books and make his pupils learn them by heart.”
李贵忙答应“是”，见贾政无话，方起来退出去。
'Sir!”Seeing that Jia Zheng had nothing more to say,Li Gui and the other servants rose to their feet again and withdrew.
此时宝玉独站在院外屏声静候，待他们出来，便忙忙的走了。
All this time Baoyu had been waiting with bated breath in the courtyard.He hurried away as soon as he saw them emerging from the house.
李贵等一面掸衣裳，一面说道：“哥儿可听见了？
As they came out, dusting their knees, Li Gui said,'Did you hear that, young master?”
人家的奴才跟主子赚些好体面，我们这等奴才白陪着挨打受骂的。
Other people's slaves get some reflected credit from their masters.
All we get for waiting on you is beatings and abuse.
宝玉笑道: “好哥哥，你别委屈，我明儿请你。”
“Cheer up, good brothers,” replied Baoyu with a smile.“I'll give you a treat tomorrow.”
说着，又至贾母这边，秦钟已早来等候了，贾母正和他说话儿呢。
By now they were back at the Lady Dowager's quarters.She was chatting with Qin Zhong, who had been there for some time.
于是二人见过，辞了贾母。
The two boys exchanged greetings, then took their leave of her.
彼时黛玉才在窗下对镜，听宝玉说上学去，因笑道： “好，这一去，可定是要’蟾宫折桂’了。
She was sitting before her mirror by the window and smiled when he told her that he was off to school.“Good,” she said.“So you're going to ‘pluck fragrant osmanthus in the palace of the moon.”
原来，贾家之义学，离此不远，不过一里之遥，系当日始祖所立，恐族中子弟，有贫穷不能请师者，即入此中肄业。
The Jia clan school was situated at no great distance from Rong-guo House.
It was a charitable foundation which had been established many years previously by the founder of the family and was designed for the sons and younger brothers of those members of the clan who could not afford to pay for private tuition.
凡族中有官爵之人，皆供给银两，按俸之多寡帮助，为学中之费。
It was supported by those with official positions, who contributed according to the size of their stipends,
特共举年高有德之人为塾掌，专为训课子弟。
and an elderly man of good reputation in the clan was elected to take charge of the boys' instruction.
如今宝秦二人来了， 一一的都互相拜见过，读起书来。
When Baoyu and Qin Zhong had been introduced to the other students, they embarked on their studies.
自此以后，他二人同来同往，同坐同起，愈加亲密。
From this day onward the two of them became inseparable, going to school and leaving it together.
又兼贾母爱惜，也时常留下这秦钟，住上三天五夜，与自己的重孙一般疼爱。
Grandmother Jia herself became very fond of Qin Zhong.
She was always having him to stay for three or four nights at a time and treated him exactly as if he were one of her own great-grandchildren.
因见秦钟家中不甚宽裕，更又助他些衣履等物。
Indeed, she treated him like one of her own grandsons, giving him clothes, shoes and other necessities when she saw that his family was hard up.