It is mainly due to the lack of research methods and approaches for exploring the late translator's translation process that the process research of Hawkes's translation of Hongloumeng has lagged far behind the product research.Based on Mun-day's proposal of applying archival research methods to the revelation of translators'decision-making process,this paper gives a scrutinized analysis of the pertinent parts in the published archival material of Hawkes's The Story of the Stone:A Transla-tor's Notebooks.Combining the archival analytical results with that of the textual comparison,the author attempts to reveal Hawkes's decision-making process of translating a narrative time issue concerning chapter 29 and chapter 30 of Hongloumeng,in the hope of enriching the process research of Hawkes's translation of Hongloumeng as well as providing a fresh perspective and a new case for related studies.