Lai Mama
赖嬷嬷
“Nannie Lai”
Her Story
赖大’s mother, and the most honoured old retainer in either house — old enough that the masters give her a seat and let her talk. In Chapter 45 she comes to Xifeng’s rooms and lectures Baoyu on how much worse his father was beaten at his age, then turns the same lecture on her own grandson 赖尚荣, released from bondage at birth and now a magistrate. Chapter 47 finds the Jias at her family’s garden as guests.
In Xiang Li's Hands
Bent nearly double over a tall knotted staff, both hands stacked on its head, white hair back from a high forehead, the face creased into a smile. Black jacket, russet scarf, pale green skirt dragging behind her. An embroidered yellow-and-teal bundle is tucked against her chest. Age, painted without pity or softening.
The Calligraphy
赖大母亲 — not a name but a relation, “Lai Da’s mother,” the form the household actually used, her standing arriving through her son.
Connections
- Lai Da 赖大 — her son, chief steward of the Rong mansion.
- Lai Shangrong 赖尚荣 — her grandson, born free, whom she lectures.
- Jia Baoyu 贾宝玉 — one of the young masters she is licensed to scold.
Others of the same kind · steward / manager Lai Da 赖大 · Lai Er 赖二 · Lai Sheng 赖升 · Lai Shangrong 赖尚荣 · Lin Zhixiao 林之孝 · Zhou Rui 周瑞 · Dai Liang 戴良 · Yu Lu 俞禄 · Wang Xin 王信 · Laiwang 来旺 · Jin Cai 金彩 · Jin Wenxiang 金文翔 · Jiao Da 焦大 · Li Shi'er 李十儿 and 8 more
Named on these pages Lai Da jia de 赖大家的 · Lai Da 赖大 · Lai Er 赖二 · Lai Shangrong 赖尚荣
Dream of the Red Chamber
Xiang Li painted all 413 characters of the novel between 1975 and 1985, the first person to complete the entire cast. See the whole collection · Chinese Empresses
