爱上红楼梦，怪异契机必不可少

During my school days, I attempted to read "Dream of the Red Chamber" twice, but I found it difficult to digest as it was filled with mundane, everyday conversations and insignificant details. My reading style had always focused on the ups and downs of the plot, with many novels being largely driven by my attachment to the story's characters. In contrast, "Dream of the Red Chamber" developed its plot based on the personalities of the characters, with each having their own unique mannerisms and dialogue. If a reader comes to love the book's characters, they will show great interest in finding out what they are up to, making even ordinary conversations between them intriguing.

I believe that every reader has their favorite characters in the book. For me, it is the intelligent and quick-witted Baoyu, as well as the kind-hearted and compassionate Ping'er. Interacting with such people in real life makes one feel more at ease and happy. As for Tan Chun, she is the kind of partner I long for in my work life--strong in management skills, protective of her subordinates, and decisive. Her reaction to the stolen items incident in comparison to others was simply impressive. The author's mastery lies in giving each character a unique personality, speech style, actions and expressions that also extend to their poetry and prose, with beautiful lines frequently appearing throughout the book. Baoyu's quote: "Riding the good wind to fly up high and far, I travel and see the wonders of the world", has completely won me over.

Speaking of "Dream of the Red Chamber," one cannot help but mention the regretful loss of the last 40 chapters. Before reading, I was curious why readers commonly believed that the last 40 chapters were not written by Cao Xueqin. However, once I read past the 80th chapter, I realized that the quality had drastically declined. Zhang Ailing also said that the incomplete work was one of the three greatest regrets of her life. Yet, my feeling is that reading the first 80 chapters was like visiting the Grand View Garden in person and living among the characters, fully immersed in the story's world. Suddenly one day, I left without saying goodbye, with little chance of ever meeting again. However, in my later years, I frequently thought about them and imagined what may have happened after I left. It is precisely due to this regretful loss that generation after generation of readers can continue to imagine and breathe new life into "Dream of the Red Chamber." Therefore, this loss is also a form of beauty. For example, even now, I still wonder who reported the secret before Xifeng's death!