TEDWR: Chapter 4

 Glossary

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

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

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

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

·Zhang Shuocheng (张硕成): Zhang Yansheng's seven-year-old half-brother.

·Luo Yi (罗姨): The nanny who has cared for Zhang Yansheng since birth.

·Grandaunt (姑奶奶): Zhang Huan's paternal aunt, the birthday celebrant.

·Grandmother (奶奶): Zhang Huan's mother, Zhang Yansheng's paternal grandmother.

·Elder Uncle (大表叔): The eldest son of the Grandaunt.

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Chapter 4

Zhang Yansheng could understand Zhang Heling's feelings. Ever since this little girl entered the Zhang household, she had seemed desperate to be sisters. Perhaps it was a little girl's instinct to chase after an older girl.

It was just that Zhang Yansheng had never paid her any attention before.

But Zhang Huan's emotions were something Zhang Yansheng couldn't quite grasp.

She had just physically subdued Liang Yingying, yet he hadn't spoken up for his young, delicate wife. He even seemed... a little pleased? What on earth was that about?

In the past, whenever she clashed with Liang Yingying, Zhang Huan always wore an expression of helplessness and irritation. And he usually took Liang Yingying's side.

Auntie Luo had often nagged her about it before, saying, "Don't be so quick-tempered, flying off the handle at the slightest spark. Your father originally felt guilty towards you, but with you making such a scene and always yelling at him, look at him now—he's even starting to take that woman's side."

But the Zhang Yansheng back then wouldn't listen. She'd flare up and say, "Why shouldn't I get angry with him? It's his fault for wronging my mother!"

A perfect match, a bitch and a dog, lasting forever!

Auntie Luo could only sigh.

Setting aside Zhang Huan's inexplicable mood, Zhang Yansheng shifted her gaze to Liang Yingying.

Today, because the whole family of five was going out, they didn't use the chauffeur. Zhang Huan drove himself. Liang Yingying sat in the passenger seat. Zhang Yansheng sat behind the driver, the little terror Zhang Shuocheng sat behind the passenger seat, and the little girl Zhang Heling was sandwiched in the middle.

From this position, Zhang Yansheng had a perfect view of Liang Yingying's profile.

Zhang Yansheng found it a little hard to believe that Liang Yingying was still this young.

In her perception, Liang Yingying had appeared before her eyes from the very start as the image of a wicked witch. She was a mountain pressing down on Zhang Yansheng, the one who had destroyed her life.

But in reality, Liang Yingying had been only twenty when she gave birth to Zhang Heling for Zhang Huan. She was only twenty-nine this year, not even thirty yet.

Zhang Yansheng had died at twenty-one. From the perspective of the reborn Zhang Yansheng, Liang Yingying being under thirty was practically a peer.

Zhang Yansheng looked at her. This mountain that had caused her so much pain and rage seemed to have shrunk.

In the quiet car, Zhang Heling's voice rang out. "Why did you bring that?" she asked, full of disdain.

Zhang Shuocheng immediately retorted, "I'm bringing it! Mind your own business!"

(read @cherrybombbertranslations.blogspot)

"I'm your older sister! I can tell you what to do!"

"So what if you're my sister? Get lost, you can't control me!"

Zhang Shuocheng, doted on by Liang Yingying as her prized jewel, had been spoiled into being both arrogant and unreasonable. As he spoke, his voice grew louder. In the enclosed space, it was especially grating, making everyone's heads throb.

Zhang Huan couldn't stand it either and was just about to tell Zhang Shuocheng to quiet down when a cold voice suddenly came from behind him. "Shut up."

In the past, in situations like this, Zhang Yansheng would often be the one yelling, becoming another major source of headache. Today, this eldest daughter was really acting out of character.

Zhang Huan couldn't help but glance in the rearview mirror, meeting Zhang Yansheng's dark, deep eyes.

For some reason, a shiver ran down his spine. He quickly focused back on driving.

Zhang Yansheng used to yell at Zhang Shuocheng often, but Zhang Shuocheng wasn't afraid at all.

Liang Yingying had drummed the idea that "we are the real family" into her children's heads. Zhang Heling didn't buy it at all. But Zhang Shuocheng swallowed it whole. In his childish mind, why did this annoying older sister even have to exist? She was always fighting with his mom. The house would be better off without her!

Liang Yingying also constantly told him not to be afraid of Zhang Yansheng. Zhang Yansheng might yell, but she had never actually hit him. Spoiled brats bully the weak and fear the strong, so he naturally became even more lawless.

But today was strange. This older sister didn't yell or scream. She just swept a cold glance at him and said, "Shut up." Suddenly, Zhang Shuocheng felt a twinge of fear. He felt there was something different about his sister today.

Children are innocent, but with that innocence comes cruelty, coldness, and also an instinctive perception of danger.

At this moment, Zhang Shuocheng perceived danger.

How could he know that although Zhang Yansheng had decided to live well in this life, she was, after all, someone who had died once. The bitterness from both her lifetimes was concentrated in her eyes, enough to scare even Zhang Huan.

Zhang Shuocheng shot a pleading look forward. But his dad just glanced at his sister in the rearview mirror and said nothing. His mom turned her head, gave a look, and only said to Zhang Heling, "Stop arguing with your brother all the time," before turning back around—Liang Yingying doted on Zhang Shuocheng, but she was also human. She couldn't stand the brain-rattling stimulation of a child's high-pitched voice in an enclosed space either.

Zhang Yansheng hadn't hit him or cursed at him; she just told him to shut up, and it seemed to work? So Liang Yingying didn't back Zhang Shuocheng up this time.

A spoiled brat without a spoiled parent to back him up naturally cowered.

Zhang Shuocheng shut his mouth obediently.

(read @cherrybombbertranslations.blogspot)

But Zhang Heling was upset. She clearly hadn't done anything wrong, yet, as always, she was the one who got scolded by Liang Yingying.

The little girl lowered her head, so wronged and hurt she was almost in tears.

She sniffled and looked up at Zhang Yansheng.

What did she hope to get from her? Comfort?

Zhang Yansheng stiffly turned her head to the side, pretending to look at the street scenes outside the window.

Zhang Heling's spirits sank. Feeling a bit lonely, she tucked both hands under her thighs and stared blankly at her own knees.

Psychology says children who often hide their hands lack a sense of security.

The car did quiet down as the adults had hoped, putting Zhang Huan in a good mood and giving Liang Yingying a welcome respite.

It was a long while before Zhang Yansheng turned her head back and glanced at the object in Zhang Shuocheng's hand—that little water gun shaped like a pistol.

Good. Afraid he might not bring it, she had deliberately provoked him with that "tell Dad to spank you" line. Sure enough, just like in her previous life, he had brought the water gun.

The family had left in time, and traffic wasn't bad. They arrived reasonably early, avoiding any rudeness.

The cousins from the Grandaunt's family were greeting guests at the entrance to the banquet hall. Zhang Huan led his troop over and first exchanged pleasantries with these cousins. Everyone was the picture of affectionate warmth.

Liang Yingying, who had risen from mistress to official wife by virtue of her son, loved attending these kinds of public, formal occasions with Zhang Huan the most, to flaunt her status as Mrs. Zhang.

Zhang Yansheng and Zhang Heling addressed everyone properly. The elders responded affectionately, praising them for growing up and becoming more beautiful, and so on.

Only Zhang Shuocheng was extremely impatient to stay at the entrance and kept trying to charge inside. Liang Yingying held onto him tightly, not letting go. He wriggled left and right until Zhang Huan put on a stern face. "Shuoshuo, greet everyone!"

Only then did Zhang Shuocheng call out his greetings, clearly reluctant.

The uncle and aunts from the Grandaunt's side just smiled and said, "So lively, so spirited."

Zhang Huan laughed awkwardly.

Raising children is hard work; parents need immense patience. Zhang Huan had been relatively patient with Zhang Yansheng in the past, though honestly, when she was little, it was mostly her mother who managed her. Later, when his first wife was constantly ill, his eldest daughter was well-behaved and easy, never requiring much worry from him.

(read @cherrybombbertranslations.blogspot)

He was almost forty when Zhang Shuocheng was born, not as energetic as in his youth. And he didn't have just one child; he had three.

His eldest daughter, Zhang Yansheng, had fiercely resisted the new mother and the new siblings from the start, turning the house upside down daily. He had no energy left to discipline Zhang Shuocheng separately. Add to that the fact he had a son in middle age and did indeed spoil him a bit, Zhang Shuocheng had grown into the headache-inducing little terror he was now.

"Go on inside. My mother-in-law arrived a while ago and is talking with my mom," Zhang Yansheng's eldest cousin said.

Zhang Huan then led his wife and children inside to find his own mother.

Liang Yingying knew perfectly well who held the most sway in this family. She pulled Zhang Shuocheng aside and warned him quietly, "Behave in front of your grandmother. If you cause trouble, I'll lock up your game console! No playing for a week!"

Mischievous boys often aren't afraid of being hit, but having their game console locked away is a different story. Zhang Shuocheng grumbled his agreement.

The family, looking all fresh and polished, presented themselves before the two wealthy, bejeweled old ladies.

"Auntie, may your life be as long as the southern mountains and your happiness as vast as the eastern sea!" Zhang Huan said with a beaming smile, even clasping his hands in a gesture of respect.

Although the Grandaunt didn't care much for her sister-in-law, she was fond of her nephew. "Listen to how sweet Zhang Huan's tongue is!" she said, then complained, "Why are you only arriving now?"

They weren't exactly late, but they certainly weren't early either. Given their close blood relation, they really should have come earlier. As a beloved nephew, arriving at this time seemed a bit lacking in warmth and respect.

Grandmother's face showed a flicker of discomfort.

Zhang Huan continued smiling. "How could we dare to come casually without proper preparation? Look, are you satisfied?" As he spoke, he nudged Zhang Yansheng and Zhang Heling forward. Although his son held more weight in his heart, the little terror was unreliable. To please the elders, he had to rely on his two pretty daughters.

A girl in the bloom of youth and an adorable little girl—who wouldn't like them?

The Grandaunt took one of each girl's hands, praising them lavishly. "You've grown again! Our Yanyan is so beautiful, our Hehe is so lovely!" She was utterly delighted.

Zhang Yansheng gave a sweet smile. "Grandaunt is the most beautiful. Today, you are the most beautiful person here."

The Grandaunt was over seventy. Her hair was impeccably styled, her ears adorned with luxurious ruby earrings, and she wore a matching set of ruby jewelry. Her hands, though wrinkled with age, had perfectly manicured nails painted the same red as her lipstick, complementing the full set of ruby jewelry.

This old lady was born into wealth and had lived a life of luxury. Beautiful all her life, she loved beauty even in old age. Hearing her grand-niece say this, she laughed until her whole body shook with delight.

(read @cherrybombbertranslations.blogspot)

Zhang Heling also said, "Grandaunt, Happy Birthday!"

She would only start fourth grade after the new term. A primary school girl, she couldn't match Zhang Yansheng's eloquence and didn't know what the Grandaunt liked to hear. But she was cute and sweet. The Grandaunt was also delighted, pinching her cheek and telling her, "There's a children's area set up over there. You can go play later."

The two pretty granddaughters salvaged some dignity. Zhang Yansheng's grandmother's expression softened slightly.

Zhang Yansheng was also the first to call out "Grandmother." Zhang Heling followed suit. The old lady answered kindly.

Liang Yingying hadn't dared to interrupt. Finally seizing a gap, she hastily pushed Zhang Shuocheng in front of the two elders. "Shuoshuo, hurry up and greet Grandmother and Grandaunt." She even pinched Zhang Shuocheng surreptitiously.

Zhang Shuocheng, feeling the pain, made an unpleasant, unwilling face as he muttered, "Grandmother, Grandaunt." Anyone with eyes could see his mother's little maneuver.

The Grandaunt's mouth twitched dismissively. "Alright, go play with your sisters over there," she said lazily.

Zhang Shuocheng's heart had already flown to the "children's area" the moment he heard it mentioned. With permission granted, he wriggled his shoulder free from his mother's clutches and ran off towards the play area.

Liang Yingying was both angry and resentful but didn't dare show it in front of the two old ladies. She could only force a smile.

The two imposing, wealthy old ladies acted as if they didn't see her, talking amongst themselves. Liang Yingying wanted to join the conversation but couldn't find an opening. Zhang Huan was helpless about the situation and could only offer an awkward smile.

Zhang Heling understood a little but not completely. She vaguely sensed this wasn't good but couldn't pinpoint exactly why. It was probably for the same reason her older sister didn't like them.

A cold smile curled at the corner of Zhang Yansheng's mouth.

Actually, she hadn't seen the two old ladies for two or three years before her death.

No particular reason. It was just that with her alternative, rebellious appearance, the elders wanted nothing to do with her. Especially her grandmother, who found her embarrassing and had explicitly told Zhang Huan not to bring Zhang Yansheng to family gatherings in the future.

Back then, Zhang Yansheng, in her rebellious phase, didn't want to see these relatives either and was happy with the mutual disregard.

But today, she had completely changed her previous attitude and actively sought closeness with the elders. The reason was simple—Grandmother and Grandaunt, these two women who had lived lives of luxury, utterly looked down on Liang Yingying, the "Mrs. Zhang" who had risen from being a mistress.

(End of Chapter)

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