TEDWR: Chapter 47

 Glossary

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

---

Chapter 47

After Liang Zheng left, Liang Yingying remained meek and submissive at home, speaking to Zhang Yansheng with an apologetic smile. Zhang Yansheng simply ignored her.

After encountering a few cold shoulders, Liang Yingying learned her lesson. She avoided provoking Zhang Yansheng as much as possible, going out of her way to steer clear of her.

During this period, she didn't dare go out to have fun, staying home every day and diligently supervising Zhang Shuocheng's studies.

Seeing that Liang Yingying was actually taking charge of Zhang Shuocheng's education herself, Zhang Yansheng simply washed her hands of the matter, handing Zhang Shuocheng over to Liang Yingying completely. Having seen how Zhang Yansheng gained Zhang Huan's favor by managing Zhang Shuocheng well, Liang Yingying was very eager to earn some good points in front of Zhang Huan herself.

However, she held no authority over Zhang Shuocheng.

As soon as Zhang Shuocheng saw his eldest sister wasn't managing him anymore, he immediately reverted to his old ways.

He would play as soon as he got up in the morning.

Liang Yingying had been getting up early recently, serving Zhang Huan breakfast before going back to bed for a nap. By the time she woke up, it was already noon. Zhang Shuocheng would have been playing all morning.

After lunch, Liang Yingying would muster her energy to watch him do his homework in the afternoon. Zhang Shuocheng had no semblance of discipline in front of her, dawdling and procrastinating, working for a bit then playing for a bit.

When Liang Yingying got angry, she hit him. Zhang Shuocheng would then throw a tantrum on the floor, rolling around and wailing at the top of his lungs. It was enough to give Auntie Wang a headache too.

Auntie Wang couldn't help but complain, "Maybe we should let Miss Yanyan manage him again."

Liang Yingying didn't dare act out against Zhang Huan or Zhang Yansheng, but she showed no such restraint with Auntie Wang. Upon hearing this, her eyebrows shot up. "What do you mean? Who's his mother?!"

Auntie Wang thought to herself, If you know you're the child's mother, why didn't you manage him before? Do you think this last-minute effort will work on the child?

But Liang Yingying planted her hands on her hips and said, "Get it straight who pays your salary!"

Auntie Wang fell silent. When Liang Yingying wasn't looking, she secretly pursed her lips.

Privately, she whispered to the other aunties, "Let's see how well she can manage the child!"

This situation lasted for a few days. Before Zhang Yansheng said anything, the first person to reach their limit was Zhang Heling. Zhang Heling finally couldn't take it anymore and went to complain to Zhang Huan: "Zhang Shuocheng has fallen way behind on his homework! August is almost half over!"

Zhang Huan said, puzzled, "Aren't you and your sister managing his homework?"

(read @cherrybombbertranslations.blogspot)

Zhang Heling complained, "Mom is managing him now; she won't let sister do it. Mom is home every day now, but she can't control Shuoshuo at all. His homework is a complete mess!"

Zhang Huan facepalmed, speechless for a long moment.

He went to find Zhang Yansheng in the guest room. "Maybe you should manage your brother's studies after all. I can see she's simply not someone who can manage a child."

"He's your own brother after all," he said with a placating smile. "How about this: I'll increase your monthly allowance by another fifty thousand?"

Zhang Yansheng said, "Whoever's child it is should manage them. She's just fulfilling her parental duty. What do you want me to do? Fight the mother for the child? Do I have nothing better to do? I haven't even finished my own homework yet."

No. 1 High School was a top-tier school. Along with the acceptance letter came a terrifying amount of homework.

Right after her rebirth, Zhang Yansheng's mind was almost empty. She frantically reviewed junior high knowledge, first tackling junior high exercises. Only after she was mostly done did she start working on the homework assigned by the high school.

Much of No. 1 High's homework involved previewing knowledge to be learned after school started. This was even worse than reviewing junior high material. At least during review, she had some impression of having learned it before. But high school knowledge… she had already started skipping classes back then.

She had a lot of homework herself now and genuinely didn't want to manage Zhang Shuocheng.

After all, his own mother was intent on managing him now.

It didn't make sense to have the older sister manage him while the mother, who was available, wasn't used. This was all a consequence of Zhang Huan being too indiscriminate, lusting after beauty and failing to take precautions, letting her have children.

Zhang Huan couldn't help but feel awkward.

He decided to talk to Liang Yingying. If you don't have the skill, don't take on the task. No matter what, the son is your own flesh and blood; you can't ruin him.

Unexpectedly, because the Liang Zheng incident had been too serious—Zhang Huan not only taught Liang Zheng a lesson but also cut ties with the Liang family—Liang Yingying was desperately eager to please him. Especially since, when he brought this up, his expression was very serious and his attitude wasn't good, making Liang Yingying even more determined to achieve some results to make him happy.

She repeatedly guaranteed, "I will definitely manage him well!"

Zhang Huan was half-convinced, half-doubtful but ultimately decided to give Liang Yingying another chance. He had let her into the household precisely so she could take care of the children.

Liang Yingying was truly determined to manage Zhang Shuocheng well. Otherwise, if Zhang Shuocheng fell back into Zhang Yansheng's hands, all the credit would go to Zhang Yansheng, and wouldn't Zhang Huan increasingly favor Zhang Yansheng?

That wouldn't do!

But this matter wasn't something determination alone could solve.

(read @cherrybombbertranslations.blogspot)

Tutoring a primary school student with homework was something that could make a person lose their composure on the spot.

For someone like Liang Yingying, who hadn't even finished vocational school, finally mustering the energy to seriously tutor her son resulted, unsurprisingly, in a complete and violent meltdown!

"How could you possibly get 9? How can these two numbers possibly add up to 9!"

"Did you even read the problem! Did you! Ah!"

"How many times is this I'm explaining it to you! Are your ears just for decoration?!"

"Ahhhhhhhhhhhhh! Are you trying to anger me to death?!"

No mother in the world could withstand tutoring a primary school student, and Liang Yingying was no exception.

As she grew frantic, she started hitting Zhang Shuocheng. For those two days, roars from the third floor and Zhang Shuocheng's pig-slaughtering wails were constantly heard.

Zhang Yansheng, carrying juice upstairs from downstairs, saw Zhang Heling leaning over the stair railing, looking upward with a worried expression.

Zhang Yansheng: "..."

Zhang Yansheng went over, clamped her hand onto Zhang Heling's head, exerted force to turn her around, and then pushed her towards her own room. "Go do your homework!"

Zhang Heling grabbed her arm. "Sis, please do something about it."

Zhang Yansheng said expressionlessly, "How can I manage your mom? Let go, let go. I have tons of homework myself!"

When it came to tutoring, someone was bound to break down sooner or later, if not the mother, then the child.

Zhang Shuocheng broke first.

Zhang Heling, in her room, heard rapid thump-thump-thump footsteps approaching and Zhang Shuocheng's hoarse, desperate cries of "Sister! Sis!" She was startled and quickly ran to open her door.

Zhang Shuocheng, face covered in tears and snot, came charging over.

Zhang Heling even reached out her hand…

Zhang Shuocheng ran right past her!

"…" Zhang Heling stared, utterly confused.

Zhang Yansheng also heard the commotion. She got up and opened her door, frowning deeply. Anyone concentrating on studying would be unhappy being disturbed like this.

Upon opening the door, she saw Zhang Shuocheng, snot flying, charging toward her!

(read @cherrybombbertranslations.blogspot)

Zhang Yansheng instinctively wanted to raise her knee!

If this were the thirteen-year-old, tall and sturdy Zhang Shuocheng from later years, she would have kicked him flying!

But this was only seven-year-old Zhang Shuocheng, still small, just a little kid.

Zhang Yansheng still had her wits about her and forcefully suppressed that flying kick. Zhang Shuocheng had already charged over, directly ducking behind her and clinging to her. "Sis! Sis!!!"

Zhang Yansheng felt her skin crawl! Did that snot and tears get on her clothes or not? In any case, these clothes were ruined!

Immediately after, Liang Yingying came chasing down.

She was panting heavily with anger, eyes glaring, expression fierce, holding a… clothes hanger. This item was everywhere, its weight and shape convenient, a universally used tool for disciplining children.

"Come here right now!" she yelled.

"I won't!" Zhang Shuocheng was also panting heavily.

"You little…! How could I give birth to something as stupid as you!" Liang Yingying said through gritted teeth, clearly in a furious, frenzied state. "How many times have I taught you! Over and over! You get it wrong over and over! Over and over!!! Is that brain of yours even a brain?! Were you a pig in a past life?! Get over here!"

Zhang Shuocheng screamed shrilly, "No!"

He hid behind Zhang Yansheng. Liang Yingying was very wary of Zhang Yansheng now and didn't dare pull him directly. But Zhang Shuocheng's intense resistance made her anger flare up. Regardless, she reached to pull him. "Come here!"

Zhang Shuocheng dodged, screaming.

Liang Yingying raised the hanger. But immediately, her wrist was gripped by Zhang Yansheng.

After her rebirth, Zhang Yansheng's strength had increased several times over. Her grip on Liang Yingying's wrist was like a vice. Liang Yingying let out a cry of pain.

Having direct physical contact with Liang Yingying disgusted Zhang Yansheng. She flung her arm, throwing Liang Yingying off. Liang Yingying stumbled back two steps, bracing against the wall to avoid falling on the floor.

She didn't dare lose her temper at Zhang Yansheng now. She only dared to say fiercely to Zhang Shuocheng, "If you don't come here right now, I'll beat you to death today!"

Zhang Shuocheng, with tears and snot, shrieked hysterically, "I don't want you managing me! I want my sister to manage me!"

As his words fell, the second-floor hallway fell into an eerie silence.

Everyone knew that when Zhang Shuocheng said "my sister," he definitely wasn't referring to Zhang Heling, but to Zhang Yansheng.

(read @cherrybombbertranslations.blogspot)

Since when had Zhang Shuocheng actively sought out Zhang Yansheng, begging for her to manage him?

Zhang Yansheng and Liang Yingying felt equally complex emotions.

She glanced at the little guy hiding behind her and noticed a dark bruise on his arm. It was clearly from a hanger strike. The force used wasn't light; it must have been done in a rage-fueled loss of control.

Auntie Wang came chasing down from upstairs, and Auntie Luo came running up from downstairs. Seeing Liang Yingying still trying to charge forward, they both went over and held her back. "Oh dear, just talk to him. Don't hit him!"

"He's still young! What does he know!"

Liang Yingying used to often say "he's still young" when Zhang Shuocheng caused trouble. She never expected someone would one day throw this phrase back at her.

She was furious. "Young my foot! He's in first grade! He can't even do subtraction right, no matter what!"

She roared, "Zhang Shuocheng, I'm telling you, if you don't come here right now, don't ever call me Mom again!"

Zhang Shuocheng gave a loud sniff. "Then I won't!"

Liang Yingying had also had enough. "Fine! From now on, don't ask me for anything! If you get bullied, don't come to me! If you want something, don't ask me to buy it for you!"

She threw the hanger violently to the ground, broke free from the two aunties' restraint, and stormed upstairs angrily.

Zhang Shuocheng yelled after her as if in defiance, "Dad will buy it for me!"

That sound of Zhang Shuocheng sniffling snot disgusted Zhang Yansheng terribly! She knocked off Zhang Shuocheng's hands that were clinging to her clothes.

Zhang Shuocheng raised his hand, about to wipe his snot with the back of his hand. Zhang Yansheng barked, "Don't move!"

Having just escaped the tiger's mouth only to enter the wolf's den, Zhang Shuocheng flinched in fright.

Zhang Yansheng strode into her room, pulled out several tissues, hurried back, and shoved them at Zhang Shuocheng. "Wipe your nose!"

(End of Chapter)

← prev next →