The Monkey and The Tiger Van Gulik

This book contained two rather short Judge Dee stories. The first story seemed to be fairly typical, a murder, a troublesome gang, prostitution etc. Though I have to say this one also had a very sweet tragic love story. Despite it starting quite simply I found that I got caught up in the story and did enjoy it quite a bit.

The tiger on the other hand started very dramatically. Dee managed to get trapped on an island with bandits attacking. It was much more dramatic and a nice change from the typical city story. The actual murder was interesting though I felt the end was a bit sudden and a bit of an anti-climax.

I am definitely enjoying Judge Dee, though I did notice at least one anachronism in the tiger story there was a statue of Guan Yin which Van Gulik referred to as the Goddess of Mercy and she was depicted as a woman, however Guan Yin didn't have her sex change till a couple hundred years later in the Song!

But they are good fun. Short and interesting and set in Tang China! Definitely looking forward to reading some more.

红楼梦 七

此时，家雨村患了伤寒，病在旅店，养了一个月的功夫才痊愈。他因身体疲倦，加上盘缠不够用，便去林如海家当林黛玉的家庭教师。林黛玉年纪小，身体又很羸弱，常常停课养病因此贾雨村十分省力。

生词
此时 ci3shi2 now， at this moment
患 huan4 suffer from illness， touble，peril disaster
病 bing4 sickness， illness， disease，
伤寒 shang1 han2 disease caused by harmful cold
旅店 lu3dian4 inn，
养 yang3 heal， rest
功夫 gong1fu time
痊愈 quan2yu4 fully recover from an illness
疲倦 pi2juan4 tired， weary
加 jia1 to add， plus， increase，praise
盘缠 pan2chan2 money for traveling， traveling expenses
家庭 jia1ting2 household
庭 ting2 courtyard
羸弱lei2ruo4 thin and weak， frail
养病yang3bing4 recouperate， take rest and nourishment， to regain health
省力 sheng3li4 save effort， save labour

( my attempt at an English translation with a bit of help )