TEDWR: Chapter 30

 Glossary

·Zhang Yansheng (张雁声): The female protagonist, the reborn eldest daughter.

·Zhang Huan (张寰): Zhang Yansheng's father.

·Liang Yingying (梁莹莹): Zhang Yansheng's stepmother.

·Zhang Heling (张鹤翎): Zhang Yansheng's nine-year-old half-sister.

·Liang Zheng (梁征): Liang Yingying's nephew from her hometown.

·Xiao Zhou (小周): One of the family drivers.

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Chapter 30

Liang Zheng truly had not understood the implication in Zhang Huan's words. He was still dreaming of commuting to and from work daily in the company boss's car with a chauffeur.

But on Tuesday, he no longer had access to the chauffeured luxury car.

After finishing breakfast in the dining room, he waited for a while but didn't see Zhang Huan come downstairs. He specifically asked one of the aunties, who said, "The master left a long time ago."

Liang Zheng was dumbfounded. "Huh?"

The auntie said, "The master had an appointment to play golf today. It's hot now, so they play early to beat the heat."

Zhang Huan had gone to play golf early in the morning. Men of his age were very particular about health and wellness—sunshine, fresh air, green grass; golf was a mandatory activity.

Liang Zheng asked, "Did the driver and car go with him?"

The auntie thought, What a stupid question. If they didn't go, would they stay here to serve you?

Suppressing the urge to roll her eyes, she forced a smile and said, "Of course." Then she quickly turned and left.

Liang Yingying was still far from getting up at this hour. Liang Zheng couldn't go to her either, so he could only complain at the dining table. "Honestly, how am I supposed to get to the company then?"

Without a car, it really was troublesome. The Zhangs' villa was located in an area near a lake with a good natural environment, but the surrounding residential areas were all villa districts, with little public transport or subway access.

Zhang Yansheng wiped her mouth with a napkin, got up, and went upstairs.

Liang Zheng complained to Zhang Heling, "Your sister is really too arrogant, isn't she?"

Zhang Heling thought, My sister is actually being nice to you. You haven't seen how she is with my mom and my brother. She hummed noncommittally and didn't reply.

She was young but sensitive. Although she had visited her hometown few times and didn't interact much with her maternal relatives, she had felt during those short visits that she couldn't bring herself to like them.

Her grandparents treated Zhang Shuocheng like a precious treasure but treated her very ordinarily. This differential treatment had disappointed her.

Then, her uncles, aunts, and this cousin, when talking about how rich the Zhang family was, had that sarcastic, envious tone that made one's skin crawl.

So she really couldn't muster any fondness for her maternal relatives.

This cousin had been here for a few days now and hadn't done a single thing she liked; instead, he had managed to annoy her. It was better when they weren't in the same city—absence made the heart grow fonder.

One cousin was arrogant, the other a ditz, and the younger cousin was a brat who didn't listen to reason and was best left alone. Liang Zheng, disgruntled, wiped his mouth and stood up.

(read @cherrybombbertranslations.blogspot)

He pondered how to get to work. Taking a taxi... was a bit expensive. Taking the bus would require transfers, was far and slow, and felt too beneath him.

The company boss was his own uncle by marriage. By that logic, he was practically half a boss himself. A boss riding the bus? He couldn't bear the loss of face.

Standing in the entrance hall, he suddenly spotted Xiao Zhou and the car Xiao Zhou drove.

Huh? He was an idiot! How could he have forgotten there was another driver in the Zhang household!

"You there," he said, having met Xiao Zhou before when Liang Yingying had him drive them to the Ferrari dealership. He went straight up and issued an order. "Take me to the company."

Xiao Zhou thought, Who the hell do you think you are, acting like a young master with me?

Even though he cursed inwardly, he couldn't actually say it out loud. He knew this was Liang Yingying's relative.

But a relative was just the employer's relative, not the actual employer. And this guy was clearly... a poor relation. Look at that suit—a domestic brand.

Xiao Zhou wasn't willing, but he kept a smile on his face. "Miss Yanyan might need the car later."

Liang Zheng wasn't stupid. He could tell the driver looked down on him. He didn't dare say anything about Zhang Yansheng. Zhang Yansheng was the child of the first wife, while Liang Yingying had been the mistress who had a child before marrying into the family. Liang Zheng unconsciously felt inferior in front of Zhang Yansheng.

But he had no such reservations with a mere driver. He flared up immediately. "What do you mean 'might'? Is she using it or not? What kind of driver are you, speaking without being sure? Besides, so what if she needs it? She's just a kid. What important thing could she have? Is it more important than me going to work?"

Xiao Zhou cursed inwardly.

A poor relation sponging off the family and he thinks he's a proper young master. Miss Yanyan might be a bit fierce, but she doesn't talk in this high-and-mighty tone. What are you, anyway? You don't pay my salary.

Xiao Zhou's eyes darted around. "I'm just a driver; I can't make decisions. How about I ask for instructions?"

As he spoke, he took out his phone and made a call.

Liang Zheng snorted. "Mrs. Zhang is my aunt, your employer's wife. Ask her and you'll see if I can use this car." Unexpectedly, Xiao Zhou dialed Zhang Yansheng's number.

Xiao Zhou was quite clear about the opposing factions in this household. He knew perfectly well that Zhang Yansheng would not like Liang Yingying's relative.

He hadn't interacted much with Zhang Yansheng before, but last time she had put him in his place, he learned how formidable she was. He looked down on Liang Zheng for acting all high and mighty on borrowed prestige. He decided to take a gamble, to see if the Zhang family's eldest daughter would take his side.

(read @cherrybombbertranslations.blogspot)

Zhang Yansheng's cool voice came through. "Hello?"

Xiao Zhou said loudly, "Miss Yanyan, I wanted to check if you were heading out soon. It's like this, Mr. Liang here wants me to take him to the company. I was worried it might conflict with your plans."

There was a second of silence on the phone, then Zhang Yansheng, the Zhang family's eldest daughter, played along perfectly. "Yes, I'm just about to leave. I'll be right down."

The corner of Xiao Zhou's mouth lifted. He knew he had bet correctly.

"Sorry, Mr. Liang," he said, hanging up and looking apologetic. "Miss Yanyan is coming down right now."

Liang Zheng hadn't expected a mere driver to pull this trick on him. His face flushed red. Stiffening his neck, he said, "Fine, let her come down! I'll have a word with her. What could a kid possibly have that's more important than an adult's business?"

Zhang Yansheng understood Xiao Zhou's intention as soon as she got the call. She was a little surprised that Xiao Zhou was so perceptive; she had always assumed Xiao Zhou was on Liang Yingying's side.

She hung up and went downstairs. On the stairs, she ran into Zhang Heling, who asked, "Sister, where are you going?"

Without stopping, she tossed back, "Got something to do, going out," and continued downstairs.

Walking out of the house, she saw Liang Zheng by the car, red-faced and thick-necked, in a standoff with Xiao Zhou. Xiao Zhou, on the other hand, was all smiles, very slick.

Those who had been out in the world for some years were different from those who had just graduated.

Zhang Yansheng walked over, didn't even look at Liang Zheng, and said directly to Xiao Zhou, "Let's go." As if she had arranged this trip with Xiao Zhou long ago.

Xiao Zhou secretly gave Zhang Yansheng a thumbs up in his mind, respectfully opening the car door for her with very proper manners.

Liang Zheng, however, reached out to stop her. "Yanyan, where are you going?"

Zhang Yansheng said, "Out to take care of something."

"I'm asking what you're going to do?" Liang Zheng pressed.

Zhang Yansheng raised an eyebrow. "Are you the police? Do I have to report to you about what I'm doing?"

Liang Zheng swallowed his anger. "No, listen, it's like this. I have to get to work. You see, an adult going to work is a serious matter, not like what you kids do. What could you possibly have to do? Shouldn't we prioritize serious business? Let me use the car today."

"You're an adult, and you didn't even arrange how to get to work every morning, something so serious, in advance?" Zhang Yansheng retorted.

(read @cherrybombbertranslations.blogspot)

Liang Zheng was stumped. He said angrily, "I just didn't expect Uncle to have plans today!"

That was even more laughable.

Zhang Yansheng said with feigned surprise, "You didn't think that just because my dad is free, he could take you to work every day, did you?"

Liang Zheng was even more surprised than she was. "We're going to the same place."

Xiao Zhou had already turned his face away, afraid he'd laugh and make this "Young Master Liang" lose face, who might then take his anger out on him in shame.

Zhang Yansheng thought to herself that in her past life, her dad had actually put up with this guy for a whole week. That was impressive.

Since she had already torn up any pretense with Liang Yingying, she couldn't care less about offending Liang Zheng.

She said mockingly, "What are you thinking? My dad is the boss; he doesn't have to clock in like you do. He often has other arrangements, meeting people, discussing things. Even when he goes to the office, it's not at the same time as you. He doesn't have to punch a time card. Don't you? Don't you get docked pay for being late?"

Liang Zheng was dumbfounded. "Then how am I supposed to get to work from now on?"

Zhang Yansheng was speechless. "You're asking me, a kid, how you should get to work?"

Xiao Zhou was struggling hard to hold back his laughter, his shoulders shaking slightly.

"Wait!" Liang Zheng's brain finally caught up. "Our family has two cars and two drivers..."

Zhang Yansheng cut him off directly. "What does that have to do with you?"

"Huh?"

"Are you trying to say that with two cars and two drivers, one can be dedicated to shuttling you around?" Zhang Yansheng gave a scornful smile. "How many cars or drivers our family has—what does that have to do with you?"

"This car costs over five million. The driver's salary is thousands a month. Did you contribute a single cent?"

"You're living in our house on our family's payroll. What, now you want to arrange our family's cars and drivers too?"

"Before you speak, look in the mirror and see how big your face is."

Although Liang Zheng knew Zhang Yansheng was proud, he hadn't expected this little girl to be so merciless. His face flushed crimson, but he couldn't come up with a retort.

"Driver Zhou, let's go." Zhang Yansheng put on her sunglasses.

(read @cherrybombbertranslations.blogspot)

Xiao Zhou hurriedly put his hand up to shield the car roof to prevent her from bumping her head, made sure Zhang Yansheng was settled comfortably, then carefully closed the door.

Passing by Liang Zheng, he shrugged and spread his hands, indicating there was nothing he could do.

Liang Zheng watched helplessly as the car drove off, leaving him with nothing but a puff of exhaust.

He spat fiercely on the ground. "Snobbish bastards! What the hell!" He seethed, his chest heaving for a long time. He considered rushing upstairs to wake Liang Yingying and lodge a complaint but didn't dare.

Since high school, he had known this aunt in K City was rich, knew that the family's improved circumstances later were all due to the money his aunt sent. Liang Yingying loomed large and somewhat intimidating in his mind.

Fuming with rage, he finally called a taxi.

Not daring to vent his anger at Liang Yingying, he called his father on the way, ranting and raving, cursing vehemently. "What the hell is she? A motherless brat looking down her nose at everyone!"

The taxi driver listened to it all the way, frequently glancing at him in the rearview mirror. After dropping him off, the driver went to pick up other fares.

Busy all morning, when lunchtime came, the driver headed to the usual spot where his colleagues gathered to eat. Drinking iced tea, he shared the gossip. "I had a real idiot in my cab this morning, a proper numbskull..."

(End of Chapter)

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