在解放前的旧社会，男人会通过娶姨太太来炫耀自己的地位和财富。

In the olden days before the communists took over, the way for a man to show his prestige and wealth was to take a mistress.

沉默了半晌。只听得姨太太扫清喉咙的咳咳的声音从楼上飘下来。

For a few moments neither of them spoke, and the silence was broken only by the sound of the concubine clearing her throat in the room above.

她好像听见五老爷对人说：“好个标致的姑娘，白白送给老头子做姨太太，真可惜。”

"Such a pretty girl, " she thought she heard the Fifth Master say. "It's shame to make her a concubine of that old man. "