What does Jia Baoyu mean by giving Lin Daiyu two handkerchiefs that are neither old nor new?

Handkerchiefs are actually a symbol of love. This move of Baoyu is a brave expression of Daiyu's love and his bold resistance to feudal arranged marriage. With the nobility of Daiyu, it is tacky to give other precious jade articles and precious playthings. Therefore, the old handkerchief items given to two relatives are naturally different from other treasures.

Others think that Baoyu's gift to Pa is related to a poem. Poetry says: if you don't write love stories or poems, you will know. I know that when I look at it upside down, I think horizontally and vertically. Judging from the poems written by Daiyu, the handkerchief given by Baoyu is "a foot wide and listless" (a handkerchief woven with silk one foot square), so this sentence is to express Baoyu's concern for Daiyu.

Personally, in ancient poetry, being driven to distraction often refers to a handkerchief used to wipe tears, which echoes Lin Daiyu's sentimental character; Secondly, the ancients used to inscribe on handkerchiefs to express their wishes, which was called "Zusu". For example, in Qin Guan's "Walking in the Sand", "Plum blossoms are posted, and they are full of fish. This hate is insignificant." It can be seen that this behavior of sending handkerchiefs is not original by Cao Xueqin, but a different feeling of the ancients, which is different from today's text messages.