I had been ill for four days and nights before I could do without medicine. Mother and Aunt's household all showed rejoicings on their faces. On this third day of the third Moon [or perhaps 3 March of the Western calendar] it was fine and fresh. Approaching the window I rolled up the curtain, gazing out. Scenic hills brightening my eyes, flowers and birds pleasing my spirit; my heart was thus soothed. At this instant I recalled something: it was the clear fragrance that came through my nose when I woke up in the past few days. There, in a wide-belly vase on the zitan-wood [explained below] bedside table, always a new bunch of fresh flowers was changed. Flowers glistening with energy, their stamens still carrying dew droplets. This morning when I discovered a jade brooch left under the bedside table, I came to realise that it was hers. Naturally, the flowers were the beauty's gift.

Excerpt from Chapter 11; translated by the Gardener

Notes on zitan furniture

(1) Zitan (red sandalwood) is the most superior wood for Chinese furniture. Originally growing in south China and countries like Vietnam, zitan trees became practically extinct by the end of the Ch‘ing (Qing) dynasty (1644-1912), because of over-exploitation by the Ch‘ing royalty.

(2) Zitan is dense, heavy, but with a high degree of plasticity. However, it is probably not the same as red sandalwood as usually so translated.

(3) Zitan furniture is valued for its corneous lustre that appears with age.

(4) In recent years some new variety of zitan wood has been discovered in Southeast Asia, begetting a contemporary generation of zitan furniture.