TEDWR: Chapter 5

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

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

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

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

·Shu Chen (书晨): Presumably a relative of the Grandaunt.

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Chapter 5

Liang Yingying's little maneuver and Zhang Shuocheng's less-than-stellar performance had particularly displeased Zhang Yansheng's grandmother.

This sister-in-law pair: the grandmother was a capable, career-oriented woman who had joined the family business after marrying Zhang Yansheng's grandfather, competitive all her life. The grandaunt came from a good family, married well, focused on supporting her husband and raising children, and had been a noble lady all her life.

The two had never quite seen eye to eye, engaging in open and covert rivalry their whole lives.

Now, with their husbands gone ahead of them, only the two old ladies remained, and their relationship had softened somewhat compared to before, though their subtle and not-so-subtle one-upmanship was unavoidable.

The grandaunt had a sharper tongue. All her life, she had criticized the grandmother for being too busy with her career and neglecting her children. Therefore, the grandmother could least stand her children and grandchildren embarrassing her in front of the grandaunt.

As Zhang Shuocheng grew older these past two years, he had only become more of a handful. In short, he had never brought his grandmother any pride.

Her grandchildren were not limited to him alone, so her feelings towards him were just average.

"You go play," Zhang Yansheng said to Zhang Heling. "I'll stay here and keep the grandmothers company."

Old ladies loved liveliness and having people around to talk to. But how many young people had the patience to chat with old ladies? Even Zhang Huan, the biological son, had been itching to slip away after just this short while with his mother.

His eldest daughter had suddenly become so well-behaved and sensible, as if she had returned to the time when her mother was still alive. Zhang Huan felt an indescribable happiness. Seeing Zhang Heling look up at the adults for permission, he quickly nodded. "Go on, go on. Go find your brother to play with."

As if she wanted to find him.

With the adults' permission, Zhang Heling also ran off to the children's play area to find girls her own age.

Zhang Huan looked left and right and said, "Mom, then I…"

"Alright, I know," the grandmother waved her hand impatiently. "Go on, go on."

Zhang Huan, greatly relieved, made a quick escape. Liang Yingying, none of her usual domineering attitude from home, tucked her tail and followed Zhang Huan out.

Grandmother looked at the remaining Zhang Yansheng and said gently, "You go play too. No need to mind us."

But Zhang Yansheng just smiled, sat down on the sofa next to the old lady, and even hooked her arm, pretending to pout. "How old am I? What is there to play?" Then she added, "It's been so long since you've seen me. Don't you miss me at all, trying to shoo me away?"

She made the grandmother laugh, who patted her hand. "Isn't it because we're afraid you'd find us two old ladies boring?"

(read @cherrybombbertranslations.blogspot)

"Not at all, "Zhang Yansheng said. "I like listening to the two of you talk."

She glanced at the fruit platter on the tea table, speared two strawberries with fruit picks, and handed one to each old lady. Both old ladies smiled and ate them delicately.

They chatted as they ate.

"When is Shu Chen's wife due?"

"The due date is late August."

"That's soon. Have they checked? Boy or girl?"

"They didn't want to know.The young people say they want to keep it a surprise," the grandaunt said. "Nowadays, boys and girls are the same. It's different from our time."

The grandmother also said, "True. Times are different, after all."

Although the grandaunt was the younger sister-in-law, she married later than the grandmother. But she had children early. Now she was about to hold her great-grandchild.

The two old ladies chatted about how so-and-so's son was useless and had been passed over, with the daughter chosen as the heir instead; and how another family's children fought over the inheritance, someone played a dirty, ruthless trick, almost costing a life.

At their age, the past was like smoke. What they talked about were their children and grandchildren.

The topic suddenly turned to Zhang Yansheng.

"Your cousin Rongrong and the others are going to Europe to play in a few days. You should go with them," the grandaunt said with a smile.

But Zhang Yansheng said, "I won't go. I want to use this summer break to properly catch up on my studies."

Both old ladies were surprised.

Zhang Yansheng lowered her eyes. "After my mom passed, I didn't work very hard. My grades aren't as good as before. I'm afraid I won't be able to keep up once I enter high school, so I want to use the summer to catch up. Also, there's a placement exam. I need to work hard for that too."

The old ladies sighed.

Zhang Yansheng's grandmother felt particularly sad.

Zhang Yansheng used to be outstanding, one of her favorites among the grandchildren, often brought before her sister-in-law to show off. But after this child's mother passed away, she had fallen far from her former self, even her personality becoming unpleasant. The grandmother and granddaughter had gradually grown distant.

Looking at her now, grown up, a young lady, yet clearly still that well-behaved, sensible, and likable little granddaughter from before.

It was all her father's fault, bringing that kind of woman into the family, ruining the family atmosphere.

It was just a pity for the child. Stubborn for a few years, but now it seemed she had grown up and gained clarity.

(read @cherrybombbertranslations.blogspot)

The old lady sighed and patted her head.

The grandaunt asked, "Starting high school after the break, right? Which school?"

"No.1 High,"  Zhang Yansheng said. "My mom always hoped I would go to No. 1 High."

It was just that when she was little, Zhang Yansheng's mother thought she could get into K City's best high school, No. 1, on her own grades. But now, Zhang Yansheng was being sent there by her father's money.

Zhang Yansheng had originally just wanted to use this topic to get closer to the elders.

But truly remembering her deceased mother's hopes for her, how she was later expelled from No. 1 High, how she ended up like that, dying without dignity—if her mother knew, how heartbroken she would be.

A pained, regretful expression appeared on Zhang Yansheng's face.

The look in her eyes truly was that of someone who had grown up.

The two old ladies exchanged a glance, both feeling pity for this motherless child.

The grandaunt, with her fiercer temper, asked directly, "Does that woman at home make things difficult for you?"

The grandmother also watched Zhang Yansheng closely. If Zhang Yansheng said her stepmother bullied her, these two old ladies would have to teach that mistress-turned-wife a lesson.

"I'm not afraid of her," Zhang Yansheng said instead. "It's just that my brother is too annoying, completely lawless. Someone should properly discipline him."

'Saying 'I'm not afraid of her' didn't mean the woman hadn't bullied her, but indicated she could handle it herself. It also expressed her frustration with her brother's lack of discipline.

Zhang Yansheng's grandmother immediately viewed her in a new light. She looked her granddaughter up and down, patted her hand, and nodded. "Alright. If there's anything you can't handle, call your grandmother."

Zhang Yansheng said solemnly, "Don't worry."

Soon, two cousins came to fetch the grandaunt. The banquet was about to officially begin.

Zhang Yansheng helped both old ladies up first, then supported the grandaunt's arm. The grandaunt said smugly to the grandmother, "See how filial Yanyan is to me."

The grandmother laughed and scolded, "That's only because you're the birthday girl today."

Zhang Yansheng merely smiled slightly.

Throughout the birthday banquet, Zhang Yansheng stayed close to the two old ladies, never leaving their side. The old ladies also enjoyed having a pretty granddaughter attending to them so thoughtfully.

Other younger female cousins were also nudged by their parents to come to the elders' side. The two old ladies didn't refuse, smiling at them all.

(read @cherrybombbertranslations.blogspot)

Zhang Yansheng didn't compete with her cousins, but she didn't leave either, remaining around the old ladies.

At the same time, her gaze constantly searched the crowd for Zhang Shuocheng's figure.

In her previous life, Zhang Shuocheng had brought that water gun to the birthday banquet. He had always held a grudge against Zhang Yansheng. He deliberately filled the water gun and ruined another one of her dresses at the banquet. It caused her to lose her composure and face in front of her grandmother, and by making a scene, she lost the elders' favor.

Later, it was practically total alienation, leaving her alone.

While she was constantly reflecting on her past life in her heart, her peripheral vision suddenly caught Zhang Shuocheng's figure darting through the crowd. Zhang Yansheng's gaze turned cold.

A mischievous glint flashed in Zhang Shuocheng's eyes. Zhang Yansheng understood all too well what he was thinking. For years, this little terror had been dedicated to making her, the sister born of the first wife, lose face at occasions like this.

It seemed he was about to make his move.

The grandaunt was unwrapping gifts with everyone, chatting and laughing, the atmosphere excellent.

Zhang Yansheng bent down, picked up the teapot, and moved to refill the tea for the old lady and a guest. The guest even praised to the grandmother and grandaunt, "Look at your family's child, so filial."

Zhang Yansheng gave the guest a shy smile, then bent down again to push the fruit platter forward.

Zhang Yansheng's movements were slow. Zhang Shuocheng, with a wicked grin, raised that little water gun and pulled the trigger…

Zhang Yansheng suddenly stood up and turned, as if to call a server. But with this sudden movement, the grandmother and grandaunt, who had been shielded by her, were suddenly exposed.

That stream of cool, slightly murky-smelling water, drawn from the grandaunt's white jade fishpond, sprayed all over today's birthday celebrant. It even splashed onto the grandmother and the guest beside her.

The crowd gasped in unison!

The grandmother, also splashed, was merely surprised and angry. But when she heard Zhang Yansheng shout, "Zhang Shuocheng, what are you doing?", she froze for a second before her face turned ashen.

Seeing his son had caused trouble, Zhang Huan had already come over and grabbed him. Zhang Shuocheng, failing to escape, kicked his legs wildly, shouting, "Let me go! Let me go right now!"

Shouting and shouting, he suddenly blurted out, "Damn it, let me go right now!"

The crowd was in an uproar. Such a young child, speaking to elders like that.

(read @cherrybombbertranslations.blogspot)

Now, even Zhang Huan's face turned ashen!

He dragged his own son before the birthday celebrant, putting on a stern face to apologize to the grandaunt. "Auntie, I'm so sorry, so sorry. It's all this kid's fault. Wait till I get home, I'll beat him to death!"

Zhang Yansheng was using a tissue to dab the water droplets from her grandmother's clothes. The grandaunt's side was being tended to by one of her own granddaughters. Hearing this, the grandaunt's expression soured further, and she snorted.

The grandmother's face became even more unbearable. She scolded Zhang Huan, "What are you talking about on such a good day!"

Only then did Zhang Huan realize that on an elder's birthday, words like 'death' were taboo. He hurriedly tried to make amends. "Ack, wrong thing to say! You brat, apologize to your grandaunt! Hurry up, say you're sorry!"

Zhang Shuocheng, used to being lawless at home, though he had been told before coming, was now frantic and couldn't remember. He just struggled, wanting to run.

Seeing her son had caused trouble, Liang Yingying initially wanted to hide. Who knew her son wouldn't even apologize? She had no choice but to dart out from the crowd, giving Zhang Shuocheng several hard pinches, and whispered harshly, "Say you're sorry! Hurry up!"

When she was harsh, she had a certain fierceness. Zhang Huan had actually never hit Zhang Shuocheng; at home, only Liang Yingying occasionally pinched him.

But Zhang Shuocheng not only didn't apologize, he even yelped in pain a few times, making it even more embarrassing.

"Enough, enough," the grandaunt said with a look of disgust. "Is it necessary to make a scene on my big day? If you want to discipline your child, do it at home. His grandmother, his father, his mother, discipline him however you like. Don't let the guests watch a joke here."

Out of lifelong habit, she had to add "his grandmother" to jab at Zhang Yansheng's grandmother.

Zhang Yansheng watched as her own grandmother's face turned green with anger.

Zhang Yansheng didn't make a sound, quietly using tissues to blot the wet spots on the old lady's clothes.

From the corner of her eye, she saw the embarrassed couple, forcing smiles as they tried to make amends.

A cold laugh echoed in Zhang Yansheng's heart.

(End of Chapter)

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