TEDWR: Chapter 43

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

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

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

· Auntie Wang (王姨): The nanny who cares for Zhang Shuocheng.

· Driver(s): The family drivers who assist with tasks like queuing.

---

Chapter 43

Zhang Heling felt she had never experienced such a blissful day.

The amusement park opened at 7 a.m. during summer vacation, and they arrived right at opening time. As soon as they entered, Zhang Shuocheng tried to drag Zhang Huan to the children's area. He was still young, and his height restricted him from many rides that Zhang Heling could enjoy.

Just then, their eldest sister Zhang Yansheng extended a hand, clamping it onto the top of Zhang Shuocheng's head like the Nine Yin White Bone Claw.

"Today is your sister's birthday. She's the main character," she said. "We're all here to accompany her today, not you. Your sister's wishes come first. We'll address your needs later."

The big sister's hand felt like iron pliers. Zhang Shuocheng felt like five bloody holes might be punched into his skull at any moment. Plus, Liang Yingying hadn't come today. He caved and said very reluctantly, "Fine then."

Auntie Wang covered her mouth, chuckling.

Watching his eldest daughter keep his little son in line, Zhang Huan felt a gratified warmth in his old heart. He patted his little daughter's head and asked with a smile, "Which ride does Heling want to try first?"

Zhang Heling's face shone with happiness. "The roller coaster!"

"Whoa!" Zhang Huan laughed. "Starting with something so thrilling right off the bat?"

Even as he said this, the group headed towards the roller coaster.

This amusement park charged a single entrance fee; once inside, no additional tickets were needed for rides. But you had to queue for attractions, with the most popular ones having the longest lines.

This park's roller coaster boasted being the most thrilling in the city.

Since they had entered first thing in the morning, the crowds weren't too heavy yet, and they got on the roller coaster smoothly.

Poor Zhang Shuocheng was too small to ride. He stood below with Auntie Wang, watching longingly as his dad and two sisters enjoyed themselves.

When Zhang Huan came down, clutching his chest, he kept muttering, "Too thrilling, too thrilling. Can't do it, can't take it."

Zhang Heling kept grinning happily, and even Zhang Yansheng couldn't help but curl the corner of her mouth slightly.

Zhang Shuocheng bounced up and down. "My turn! My turn!"

Zhang Yansheng saw Zhang Huan about to speak and immediately said, "Today is your sister's birthday. Dad needs to spend time with her. Come on, I'll take you to play."

As she spoke, she stretched out her hand toward Zhang Shuocheng.

That hand of hers hurt terribly when it hit his bottom! And when it clamped on his head, it felt like an eagle's talon!

Zhang Shuocheng flinched. Under the threatening look in Zhang Yansheng's eyes, his scalp tingling, he reluctantly offered his little chubby paw, which Zhang Yansheng firmly grasped.

(read @cherrybombbertranslations.blogspot)

"Auntie Wang and I will take him to the children's area. You stay with Heling." This was directed at Zhang Huan. Then she patted Zhang Heling's head. "Have fun. Happy birthday!"

Zhang Heling looked up, her dark pupils sparkling with joyful light in the sunshine.

Zhang Yansheng, firmly holding Zhang Shuocheng, left with Auntie Wang.

Zhang Huan and Zhang Heling exchanged a look. Both suddenly realized that this seemed to be the first time since Zhang Heling was born that Zhang Huan was spending time alone with her.

Realizing this, Zhang Huan felt a bit awkward. He gave a dry laugh and affectionately rubbed Zhang Heling's head. "Heling, which ride do you want? Tell Dad. I'll have them go queue up first. It's Heling's birthday today—let's make sure you have your fill of fun!"

He had bought tickets for both family drivers to come in as well, having them help queue up to save a lot of time.

Zhang Heling felt this was the most important day of her life, a moment she had never experienced before. Her entire little face glowed.

Over in the children's area, Zhang Shuocheng had been taken by Zhang Yansheng.

He didn't care that Liang Yingying hadn't come, but he really, really didn't want to follow Zhang Yansheng. Yet he couldn't resist, didn't dare resist.

The children's area was much less crowded. After all, it wasn't the park's main attraction. A ticket price of three hundred per person was too steep for a family with only one small child; it made more sense to go to regular parks with play facilities.

Zhang Shuocheng got on rides almost immediately upon arriving, with barely any queuing.

By the time he finished one ride, Auntie Wang had already gone to queue elsewhere. His eldest sister Zhang Yansheng held a waffle cone ice cream.

Zhang Shuocheng, of course, wanted one too, but Zhang Yansheng only had one. Since Zhang Yansheng started enforcing discipline with force, Zhang Shuocheng no longer dared to throw tantrums or be mischievous in front of her. He glanced at the ice cream, his head swiveling left and right, looking for Auntie Wang to buy him one.

Unexpectedly, Zhang Yansheng suddenly held the ice cream out in front of him. "Eat it."

Zhang Shuocheng looked at her in surprise.

Zhang Yansheng grew impatient. "Eating it or not? If not, I'll eat it."

"Eat, eat." Zhang Shuocheng quickly took it and gobbled the top peak in one bite.

Looking up at Zhang Yansheng again, there was something… strange in her eyes.

In Zhang Shuocheng's mind, Zhang Yansheng was a great demon. The great demon buying him ice cream? He felt uneasy eating it.

Being alone with Zhang Yansheng also made him uneasy, always feeling a bit apprehensive.

"Don't rush, eat slowly," the great demon said. "Auntie Wang is queuing over there. By the time you finish, it should be about ready. If you can't finish, I'll hold it for you."

(read @cherrybombbertranslations.blogspot)

As she spoke, she guided Zhang Shuocheng by the back of his head towards another ride. Sure enough, they saw Auntie Wang queuing there, waving at them.

Zhang Shuocheng relaxed a little, feeling more settled.

He also felt that being alone with the great demon wasn't so bad. As long as he didn't act up, she didn't seem to hit him for no reason?

She even bought him ice cream. She was actually pretty nice.

In a child's mind, it's like that: give them something to eat, take them to play, and they're instantly a "good person."

Treat them well usually, but hit them once or refuse an unreasonable demand, and they instantly become a "bad person."

After playing on a few rides, Zhang Shuocheng suddenly thought that the great demon was actually really good.

At least she wasn't like his mom, always complaining—about the heat, the long queues, the slow pace of play, taking up too much of her time for mahjong or shopping…

She didn't talk much, but if he said he wanted to play something, she wouldn't refuse. She'd arrange for an auntie to go queue up in advance. He got to ride everything he wanted.

He also got to eat everything he wanted—except ice cream. She said, "Eat too much and you'll get diarrhea. If you have a huge accident on a ride, and your schoolmates find out, they'll laugh at you for the rest of your life."

Zhang Shuocheng really did get diarrhea if he ate too much ice cream. He imagined the scene and gave up in fear.

After entering an organization like school, humans become particularly sensitive to exclusion and ridicule from their peer group. Even a brat like Zhang Shuocheng didn't want to be laughed at for life because of diarrhea.

Meanwhile, Zhang Yansheng thought to herself that Zhang Shuocheng wasn't actually that hard to manage.

Innate "bad seeds" were rare. Most "bad" behavior was just a combination of learned disregard for rules and extreme selfishness.

With a little management, he could at least behave decently. It was a pity many parents doted excessively, never mind "managing" them.

Both Zhang Shuocheng and Zhang Heling had a very happy day. Liang Yingying, however, felt strange inside.

As Zhang Huan truly understood her, she had completely forgotten about the promised trip to the amusement park! She had just said it offhand to Zhang Shuocheng at the time. She never had that parental awareness that promises made to children must be kept. She had too many offhand remarks she forgot immediately; this was just one more.

Fortunately, Zhang Shuocheng was a child himself. Even huge matters were forgotten as soon as he turned around.

One moment he could be throwing a tantrum on the floor, demanding to go to the amusement park; the next, playing video games, he'd forget all about it.

Zhang Heling kept the matter in mind but wouldn't mention it to Liang Yingying or Zhang Shuocheng.

(read @cherrybombbertranslations.blogspot)

Zhang Yansheng and Zhang Huan made the arrangements without anyone thinking to tell Liang Yingying.

Liang Yingying had forgotten about both Zhang Heling's birthday and the promised amusement park trip. She had even made plans to play mahjong today.

So, when she got up in the morning and asked where everyone was, the auntie smiled and said, "They went to the amusement park."

There was an indescribable nuance in that smile.

Liang Yingying: "..."

Liang Yingying felt strange inside.

If they had actually insisted she go, she would have been very unwilling. Midsummer, so hot! To avoid the heat, you had to get up early. She was not an early riser, and she had terrible morning temper.

If Zhang Huan had directly said she didn't need to go, she would have gladly stayed home.

However! But!

The whole family went out for a group activity without saying a word, leaving her alone. Especially since that baggage Zhang Yansheng went too!

Liang Yingying felt particularly uncomfortable, all twisted up inside.

She was absent-minded playing mahjong and lost several rounds.

A friend asked, "What's up with you today?"

Liang Yingying, eager to vent, spilled everything. After finishing, she said, "I don't know what's wrong. I just feel all weird."

A friend, holding a slender cigarette, exhaled a puff of white smoke and said, "The way I hear it, it sounds like that baggage in your house is trying to win over your two kids?"

Liang Yingying's eyelids lifted. "Huh?"

Someone else chimed in, "That girl sounds quite scheming."

"Pfft, isn't it obvious? She wants your kids to be close to her and not close to you. That little bitch is quite the calculator."

Birds of a feather flock together. This mahjong table was full of second wives or mistresses, women living off their benefactors.

Liang Yingying was the standout among them—she had secured her benefactor and gotten herself legitimized. She was now a wealthy society lady, seemingly on a different level.

But… while her status was different, her mindset wasn't.

Liang Yingying suddenly saw the light!

(read @cherrybombbertranslations.blogspot)

"No wonder! I kept thinking she'd been acting so strange lately! Damn it!" She slapped the table. "Buying this and that for my daughter, taking my son to play, setting up that VR room for them! Always wearing matching clothes with my daughter, making them look like mother and daughter! Ugh!"

Someone said, "Well, you better be careful. You're never home, never mind the kids. Be careful your son and daughter's hearts turn toward someone else."

Liang Yingying scoffed. "What am I afraid of? I gave birth to them. They're not stupid. Can't they figure out who their real mother is? Would they really be good to someone else and ignore their own mother?"

"That's hard to say. Kids are pretty easy to fool," that person said. "Take my niece, for example. I've told you all about my brother and sister-in-law's mess, right? Honestly, it was all my brother's fault, too much of a jerk. But after my sister-in-law left post-divorce, my mom cursed her mother in my niece's ear day and night. Non-stop. You know what happened? Now, when my sister-in-law comes to visit, my niece throws the things she bought on the floor, points at her nose, and tells her to get lost. See how powerful that is?"

Liang Yingying clicked her tongue. "Good heavens, is your niece stupid?" Abandon her own mother?

"It's not stupidity; it's brainwashing! Brainwashing, understand?"

"You be careful. Your son and daughter are only in elementary school. If that baggage in your house brainwashes them, you'll be crying later."

"Kids—whoever plays with them, gives them food and toys, that's who they get close to."

Liang Yingying felt unsettled by their words.

She'd have to watch out later, be careful not to let Zhang Yansheng win over her two kids.

Especially her son.

(End of Chapter)

← prev next →