第一回: Chunk 35

士隐送雨村去后,回房一觉,直至红日三竿方醒.因思 昨夜之事, 意欲再写两封荐书与雨村带至神都,使雨村投谒个仕宦之家为寄足之地. 因使人过去请时, 那家人去了回来说:"和尚说,贾爷今日五鼓已进京去了,也曾留下 话与和尚转达老爷, 说`读书人不在黄道黑道,总以事理为要,不及面辞了.'

The time specifiations in here make this chunk a bit challenging - but also interesting (红日三竿 and 五鼓).

My try:
After 士隐took leave of 雨村, he returned to the house to sleep. He woke up only late in the morning. Thinking about what happened the night before, he wanted to write recommendation letters that 雨村 could take to the capital to hand them over to an official for 雨村 to reside there. Therefore he asked someone in the house to go over. When this person came back he reported: “The monk said, Sir 贾 already left shortly before dawn today to go to the capital. He had left a message for the monk to tell the gentleman: It said: educated people are not superstitious, career is always most important, no time for a farewell.”

 

Breakdown:

士隐送雨村去后,回房一觉
After士隐took leave of 雨村, he returned to the house (一觉) to sleep

直至红日三竿方醒
Up to  (红日三竿) “when the sun was three bamboo poles high” = about 8-9 o’clock = relatively late(方) first/only he woke up

因思 昨夜之事
Because thinking of what happened last night

意欲再写两封荐书与雨村带至神都
He then wanted to write two (or several?) recommendations (两封荐) for 雨村 to take them to the capital

使雨村投谒个仕宦之家为寄足之地
(and) make 雨村 (投谒) hand over an inquiry to the (仕宦之家) house of the official (寄足之地) for a place to stay & “work” (well, I am not sure if “stay & work” fits here for寄足之地: advising, writing poems,…)

因使人过去请时, 那家人去了回来说
Therefore when he asked someone to go over, when (那家人) that (belonging to the family/household) person came back he said:

"和尚说,贾爷今日五鼓已进京去了,
The monk said, Sir 贾 today (五鼓) [at the time of the five drums – last phase before dawn] shortly before dawn, already went to the (进京) capital

也曾留下 话与和尚转达老爷,
Also had left a message for the monk to tell to the 老爷 (let me freely tranlate that as "gentleman")

说`读书人不在黄道黑道,
It said (读书人) educated people are not (黄道黑道) superstitious

总以事理为要,
(事理) Career is always most (要) important

不及面辞了.
No time for (面辞) personal farewell