TEDWR: Chapter 6

 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 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. Nickname: Hehe.

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

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Chapter 6

The birthday banquet concluded with a rather unpleasant little incident. In the end, the elderly birthday celebrant had no choice but to go upstairs and change into a new dress, paired with a new set of emerald jewelry.

Although that emerald set was valuable, everyone knew the Grandaunt still preferred rubies and loved wearing red on such festive occasions.

Zhang Yansheng's grandmother's face was grim throughout the entire banquet.

The grandmother held her temper until the banquet was over. As they prepared to get into the car in the courtyard, she finally unleashed her anger on Zhang Huan. "If you can't teach your son properly, then don't bring him out to embarrass me in the future!"

Zhang Huan, at this point, wouldn't dare bring Zhang Shuocheng anywhere near the old lady. He had long since told Liang Yingying to take Zhang Shuocheng and Zhang Heling to wait for him by the car. Now, only Zhang Huan and Zhang Yansheng were with the grandmother.

"Don't be angry," Zhang Yansheng said softly, soothing the old lady by gently stroking her arm. "It's not worth making yourself sick."

Seeing her granddaughter so gentle and sweet, the old lady's anger subsided slightly. But when she looked at her son again, her displeasure returned, and she snorted.

Zhang Yansheng glanced at Zhang Huan. "How could my dad possibly control that kid? He spoils him like a little emperor. Otherwise, why do you think the boy dares to be so naughty?"

The grandmother was furious. She pointed at Zhang Huan. "To raise a child without teaching him is the father's fault! If you can't control him, let Yanyan do it!"

Zhang Huan broke into a cold sweat, only daring to nod. "Okay, okay."

But Zhang Yansheng said, "Really now, how can I manage him? He doesn't listen when I tell him off. Should I beat him? Our family doesn't beat children."

"You are the eldest daughter of this family. The elder sister is like a mother; of course you have the right to discipline your younger siblings," the grandmother said with a stern face. "We don't beat children, but that's for good children like you and Hehe. For a mischievous little monkey like Shuoshuo, you have to beat him! Beat him hard! How old is he? Can't you beat him? Did you learn sanda for nothing?"

Zhang Yansheng glanced at Zhang Huan. "I'd love to beat him to death every day. Would my dad allow it?"

This child was spoiled rotten by his own father. As for his mother, who lacked any real standing, the grandmother held no expectations. She darkened her face. "I'm telling you to beat him. If your dad dares to stop you, you tell me. I'll beat him! It's not like I haven't beaten him before!"

Having his old embarrassments revealed in front of his daughter, Zhang Huan could only offer an awkward smile.

Watching his daughter gently and softly coax his mother into the car, he finally breathed a sigh of relief. He cleared his throat and said to Zhang Yansheng, "Let's go."

Zhang Yansheng looked at him and silently walked toward their family car.

(read @cherrybombbertranslations.blogspot)

In the night, his daughter's eyes were exactly like her mother's had been. The way those eyes looked at him was also the same as the way her mother had looked at him in her final two years.

It was a look that no longer held any illusions about him, a look that would no longer be disappointed.

Zhang Huan was stunned for a moment. His eldest daughter had been off all evening. She seemed... too quiet.

In the past, wasn't it loud arguments, indignant complaints, even gritted teeth that were her normal state? How had she... suddenly changed her nature today? It was as if her mother's spirit had possessed her.

On this hot summer night, Zhang Huan felt an inexplicable chill. He hurried to catch up with his daughter and headed for their car.

Once in the car, Liang Yingying started complaining. "Making a mountain out of a molehill. It was just a child being mischievous. Someone of that age, why get so angry at a child?"

Zhang Huan, who had been putting on a smiling face for his mother and aunt all night and had gotten scolded, had already accumulated a bellyful of anger. He immediately snapped, "You shut up!"

He turned around and pointed at Zhang Shuocheng's nose, scolding, "If you ever dare bring that piece of junk with you when we go out again, I'll beat you to death!"

As he spoke, he leaned over, snatched the water gun from Zhang Shuocheng's hand, and threw it out the window.

"My gun! My gun!" Zhang Shuocheng burst into loud wails.

"Shut up!" Zhang Huan roared at him. "Keep crying and I'll whip you!"

It was rare for Zhang Huan to get so angry with Zhang Shuocheng. The boy was scared, his wails turning into sniffles and sobs.

Liang Yingying was also cowed, especially with Zhang Yansheng sitting in the back. She felt embarrassed and muttered quietly, "He didn't mean it…"

"Shut up!"

Zhang Yansheng only watched this farce between the husband, wife, and son with cold eyes.

She knew Zhang Huan was just trying to intimidate Zhang Shuocheng. Zhang Huan had a bit of a preference for sons; he had always wanted a boy. Otherwise, he wouldn't have married Liang Yingying into the family for Zhang Shuocheng's sake.

In the past, she had been foolish. She saw Liang Yingying as a great mountain and had to jump and shout to confront her. In the end, she pushed Zhang Huan to Liang Yingying's side, actually uniting the couple against her.

But how united could this couple be? See, just this little incident revealed their true colors.

Zhang Yansheng understood perfectly why Zhang Huan was angry.

(read @cherrybombbertranslations.blogspot)

Zhang Huan was not an only child. Although he owned several independent companies, the family's core assets were held by his mother. The score he had in his mother's heart now related to how much power she was willing to delegate to him at present and what share he would get in her will in the future.

The fifteen-year-old Zhang Yansheng from before had never considered any of this. But the current Zhang Yansheng, who had already been out in the world, knew that money made the world go round. Looking at such a formidable old lady now, she felt like giving her a thumbs up.

She lifted her eyes and caught sight of Liang Yingying.

Such a young Liang Yingying, following her father, this semi-old man—what was she after? Wasn't it also money?

How laughable that she had once seen her as an immovable mountain. She was just a lightweight gold-digger who didn't dare let out a peep in front of Zhang Yansheng's grandmother.

Thinking back on her past actions now, Zhang Yansheng sighed at her own foolishness—putting the cart before the horse, not knowing what was truly important.

The woman sitting in the front passenger seat now felt weightless in her heart. All illusions of a "mountain" had completely shattered.

Even her own father, thinking of his cautious, fawning behavior in front of his mother, made the corner of her mouth twitch upward into a cold, mocking smile.

Her gaze shifted again and landed on Zhang Heling beside her.

Zhang Heling sat in the middle of the back seat, her little face pale with fright, on the verge of tears. But no one in the car paid her any attention.

She was neither the first child, carrying the surprise of first-time fatherhood, nor the one "carrying the handle," bearing the expectations of continuing the family line. Stuck in the middle, and moreover a girl, with a mother who rose to power by having a son, she was destined to be the little pitiful one everyone overlooked.

As if sensing the gaze, Zhang Heling suddenly turned and looked at her. There seemed to be tears glistening in her eyes, but she bit her lip timidly, not daring to annoy the adults.

The gazes of the two girls connected.

Zhang Yansheng clearly felt the anticipation in the little girl's gaze.

Zhang Yansheng found it strange. Back when this mother and her two children first entered the household, in a moment of anger, she had pushed Zhang Heling and made her fall. Logically, Zhang Heling should be afraid of her, should hate her.

But ever since this little girl entered this home, she had always trailed after her, always wanting to be her little shadow.

At first, she had yelled at her a few times. The little girl would just look timidly, her little face puffing up, her little mouth about to pout, on the verge of crying. Later, Zhang Yansheng had no choice but to ignore her, pretending she didn't exist.

She just never could have imagined that when she died, the one who cried the most heartbrokenly would be this girl.

(read @cherrybombbertranslations.blogspot)

The anticipation in those big, tear-filled eyes was overwhelming. Zhang Yansheng looked away.

But Zhang Heling carefully, cautiously, leaned closer to her. Her small body came to rest against Zhang Yansheng's arm.

Zhang Yansheng stiffened and turned her head to look out the window, avoiding it.

Children's intuition is very sharp. Their hearts don't have as many twists and turns as adults'; often, they just follow their instincts.

Although her older sister's body was stiff, she didn't push her away, nor did she glare at her impatiently or intimidatingly like before. Compared to the past, she was gentle a hundred times over.

Zhang Heling's courage grew. She leaned her whole body toward Zhang Yansheng and actually ended up... leaning against her.

Zhang Yansheng stiffened for a moment. She could feel the small body beside her, like that of a little animal, and could even smell a faint, clean scent on her. It was the smell of children's skincare cream, not as fragrant as adult women's products, but... very relaxing and pleasant.

But then her arm suddenly felt wet.

......

Had those teardrops that were threatening to fall finally spilled over?

Zhang Yansheng gazed out at the night scenery in silence for a moment, then pulled out a tissue and handed it over.

Zhang Heling took the tissue in surprise and looked at Zhang Yansheng. Her big sister was looking straight ahead, not glancing sideways.

Zhang Heling suddenly smiled. She wiped her tears and even blew her nose.

Crying one moment, laughing the next. Kids were really annoying, Zhang Yansheng thought.

When they returned home, Zhang Huan's anger hadn't subsided.

"Lock up all his game consoles!" he ordered Liang Yingying. Then he pointed at Zhang Shuocheng's nose and scolded, "This summer break, you will stay home and focus on your studies! Look at the pitiful grades you got last semester! And you," he turned back to Liang Yingying, "stop shopping and playing mahjong all day. Keep an eye on the child's studies! You gave birth to him, not the nanny!"

Finally, the scolding landed back on Liang Yingying.

Losing face in front of her stepdaughter, Liang Yingying was resentful. But she depended on this man, and she knew when she could act spoiled or throw a tantrum and when she had to tuck her tail between her legs. She obediently replied, "I know, I know. Let's talk about it back in the room."

(read @cherrybombbertranslations.blogspot)

Zhang Shuocheng hid behind Liang Yingying. It was the first time he had seen his father so furious, and his mother didn't even open her arms to protect him. He was cowed. Though he was not convinced, he didn't dare make a sound.

Zhang Yansheng had only been reborn for half a day and had already witnessed the couple who used to stand united against her beginning to fracture. She found it utterly meaningless. She didn't care to watch any longer and turned to go upstairs.

Seeing her sister heading up, Zhang Heling immediately tagged along like a little tail. "Wait for me, Sister."

Both sisters' bedrooms were on the second floor, next to each other.

Zhang Yansheng walked with long strides; Zhang Heling had to trot to keep up, but she managed in the end.

"Sister," Zhang Heling said. Zhang Yansheng's attitude tonight was so different from before. The little girl, sensing an opportunity, clung to her. "Are you going to sleep now? Well, good night!"

Zhang Yansheng had just reached her bedroom door and pushed it open.

She stopped, finally unable to bear it any longer, and turned to glare at Zhang Heling.

Zhang Heling blinked her big, dark eyes.

"Zhang Heling!" Zhang Yansheng asked with a stern face. "Why do you keep following me all the time?"

"Because..." Zhang Heling answered seriously, "I'm your little sister?"

Zhang Yansheng: "......"

Zhang Yansheng crossed her arms and asked the little girl, "Do you remember things from when you were little?"

Zhang Heling: "Huh?"

"Do you remember what happened when you first came to my house?"

"Umm...I don't really remember..."

"Forget it." Zhang Yansheng turned to go into her room.

Her sister was actually taking the initiative to talk to her, and so calmly too. Zhang Heling hurriedly grabbed Zhang Yansheng's dress. "I remember, I remember!"

"Remember my foot! You were only four back then!" Zhang Yansheng snapped.

The fifteen-year-old Zhang Yansheng might have often yelled at home, but her presence was far less intimidating than the twenty-one-year-old Zhang Yansheng who had been out in society. Now, even though Zhang Yansheng's voice wasn't particularly loud, her aura was much sharper than before.

(read @cherrybombbertranslations.blogspot)

Zhang Heling shrank back a little.

Zhang Yansheng stared down at her, using her height advantage. "What do you remember?"

That was a hard question to answer. Childhood memories were all fragmented and scattered. Zhang Heling looked a bit lost, completely unaware of what Zhang Yansheng was actually trying to ask, so of course she couldn't answer.

Zhang Yansheng asked, "Do you remember that on the first day you and your mom came here, I pushed you and you fell? Do you remember that?"

Zhang Heling had a sudden realization. "Oh! That! I remember!"

"You really remember?"

"Yes! It was in the living room on the first floor, right? I hit my back on the corner of the sofa."

That tiny little person from back then actually could remember.

Zhang Yansheng said, "I thought you forgot. Since you remember, why do you keep chasing after me? Don't you hate me? Aren't you afraid of me?"

"I am a little afraid..." The pink-cheeked little girl scratched her face and looked up. "But, even though Sister's voice was really loud and a bit scary back then, what I remember especially clearly is... that you were crying... the whole time..."

The first time she met her older sister in this life, her voice was very loud, she sounded fierce, and she was a bit scary.

But her eyes kept shedding tears, nonstop.

Her mother had just died.

Right after she died, her own mother wanted to go be someone else's mother. Zhang Heling felt that if it were her, she would also be very angry and very sad.

So she couldn't bring herself to dislike this fierce older sister.

The little girl didn't have many schemes in her heart. What she thought, she said.

Her big, dark eyes were clear and bright, with a clarity that even the clearest spring in the world couldn't match. This clarity was called childhood innocence.

Zhang Yansheng stared at the little girl, then gave her a little push, and with a thud, closed her door.

(End of Chapter)

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