Tells the story of the changing fortunes of the Jia dynasty, focussing on Bao-yu, now married to Bao-chai, after the tragic death of his beloved Dai-yu. Against such worldly elements as death, financial ruin, marriage, decadence and corruption, his karmic journey unfolds.

Note on SpellingPrefaceChapter 27Beauty Perspiring sports with butterflies by the Raindrop Pavilion; And Beauty Suspiring weeps for fallen blossoms by the Flowers' GraveChapter 28A Crimson cummerbund becomes a pledge of friendship; And a chaplet of medicine-beads becomes a source of embarassmentChapter 29In which the greatly blessed pray for yet greater blessings; And the highly strung rise to new heights of passionChapter 30Bao-Chai speaks of a fan and castigates her deriders; Charmante scratches a 'qiang' and mystifies a beholderChapter 31A torn fan is the price of silver laughter; And a lost kylin is the clue to a happy marriageChapter 32Bao-yu demonstrates confusion of mind by his declaration to the wrong person; And Golden shows an unconquerable spirit by ending her humiliation in deathChapter 33An envious younger brother puts in a malicious word or two; And a scapegrace elder brother recieves a terrible chatisementChapter 34A wordless message meets with silent understanding; And a groundless imputation leads to undeserved rebukesChapter 35Sulky Silver tastes some lotus-leaf soup; And Golden Oriole knots a flower-patterned fringeChapter 36Bao-chai visits Green Delights and bears strange words from a sleeper; And Bao-yu visits Pear-tree Court and learns hard facts from a performerChapter 37A happy inspiration prompts Tan-chun to found the Crab-flower Club; And an ingenious arrangment enables Bao-chai to settle the chysanthemum poem titlesChapter 38River Queen triumphs in her treatment of chysanthemum themes; And Lady Allspice is satirical on the subject of crabsAn inventive old countrywoman tells a story of somewhat questionable veracity; And and impressionable young listener insists on getting to the bottom of the matterChapter 40Lady Jia holds two feasts in one day in the Prospect Garden; And Faithful makes four calls on three dominoes in the Painted ChamberChapter 41Jia Bao-yu tastes some superior tea at Green Bower Hermitage; And Grannie Liu samples the sleeping accommodation at Green DelightsChapter 42Lady Allspice wins over a suspicious nature with some well-intentioned advice; And River Queen enhances her reputation as a wit with some amusing sarcasmsChapter 43An old woman's whim is the occasion of a birthday collection; And a young man's remorse finds solace in a simple ceremonyChapter 44Xi-feng's jealousy is the object of an unexpected provocation; And Patience's toilet is a source of unexpected delightChapter 45Sisterly understanding finds expression in words of sisterly frankness; And autumnal pluviousless is celebrated in verses of autumnal melancholyChapter 46An awkward person is given an awkward mission; And a faithful maid vows faithfulness unto deathChapter 47In pursuit of love the Oaf King takes a fearful beating; And from fear of reprisal the Reluctant Playboy makes a hasty getawayChapter 48The Love-Deluded One Turns his thoughts to trade and travel; And the Poetry Enthusiast applies herself to making versesChapter 49Red flowers bloom brighter in dazzling snow; And venison reeks strangely on rosebud lipsChapter 50Linked verses in Snowy Rushes Retreat; And lantern riddles in the Spring In Winter RoomChapter 51A clever cousin composes some ingenious riddles; And an unskilful physician prescribes a barbarous remedyChapter 52Kind Patience conceals the theft of a Shrimp Whisker bracelet; And brave Skybright repairs the hole in a Peacock Gold snow-capeChapter 53Ning-guo House sacrifices to the ancestors on New Year's Eve; And Rong-guo House entertains the whole family on Fifteenth NightAppendix I: Regulated VerseAppendix II: Threesomes with the DominoesAppendix III: Unsolved RiddlesCharacters in Volume 2Genealogical Tables

“Filled with classical allusions, multilayered wordplay, and delightful poetry, Cao’s novel is a testament to what Chinese literature was capable of. Readers of English are fortunate to have David Hawkes and John Minford’s The Story of the Stone, which distills a lifetime of scholarship and reading into what is probably the finest work of Chinese-to-English literary translation yet produced. You will be rewarded every bit of attention you give it, many times over.” —SupChina, “The 100 China Books You Have to Read, Ranked” (#1)