Chapter 290: Daughter of the Republic VS Chinese Opera Singer (11.22)
It was like Wang BaoChuan who waited for Xue RenGui in a cold cave for eighteen years.
Was she foolish? Or not foolish? Wang BaoChuan was a well-known, talented girl, and the most doted on daughter of the prime minister.
But in the end she insisted on marrying a poor young guy, not for wealth and glory, but for that ignorant emotion {T/N: called lurve}.
She was willing to stay with her decision for a lifetime, even though afterwards Xue RenGui enlisted in the army and left for eighteen years without sending her news.
She never gave up, keeping firm and persistent, waiting for him to return home with honor at the king’s side.[1]
“Nian XunMi, are you scared? If you have the ability, don’t leave, ah! You’re just a thing no one wants! So what if you’re surnamed Nian? A fake is a fake!”
Nian Xue’er was provoked by Nian ShuRong earlier, and had not yet let it go. Now she was being upset by Ziju BaiLin.
On top of all that, adding one Nian XunMi, the effect was remarkable. She completely lost her reason.
An unidentified emotion flashed in XunMi’s eyes. Expressionless, she pursed her lips.
To outsiders, she seemed to be deeply hurt because of Nian Xue’er’s words, but in fact she was complaining to BaoBao.
“BaoBao, does this plane’s Female Lead have learning disabilities? I’d like to call attention to the fact that this is outside. She’s even lost her mind. Can I beat her up?” She guaranteed she’d knock her out, then find someone to throw her in front of her parents.
BaoBao crouched on XunMi’s shoulder, invisible. It looked depressed.
[Host, the Female Lead does not have learning disabilities. She’s just gone mad from your provocation. Next time, if you incite her a little less, maybe she won’t go crazy.]
With such a powerful host, it felt that its IQ had really fallen to an all-time low. It was so tired.
XunMi frowned in disapproval. This was clearly the Female Lead who was too weak, ok? It had nothing to do with her.
Ziju BaiLin also thought XunMi looked hurt, so he drew her into his embrace and turned back to glower at the person who had acted recklessly intending to cause trouble.
Mu Cheng hurriedly had someone block Nian Xue’er’s mouth to keep her from saying anything else that would make the Madam sad.
He was also very disdainful of this woman. She was fully aware she was a treasured young lady, yet she still depreciated her value, willingly becoming an opera singer. Stupid.
XunMi was confused by her husband’s expression that seemed to be saying “be good, don’t be sad, you have me.” She really wasn’t feeling hurt, ah!
As for the Female Lead’s skills, they were really too low, ok?
Nian Xue’er was still restless, even if her mouth was blocked. She kept struggling.
She had great strength, such that the soldier holding her was almost unable to hold her.
“Accompany me to go back.” The matter had already reached this point. She felt it would be better to go back and see for herself.
Ai, the Female Lead could really be frustrating. She also didn’t know what kind of attitude her parents would have in the end.
Naturally, Ziju BaiLin nodded at once. He led XunMi out of the crowd, mounted his horse, and then took the lead towards the Nian residence.
Behind, Mu Cheng took Nian Xue’er and a few soldiers, and followed after him.
Even after they’d gone a little distance, he could still hear the sound of the people chattering.
“I don’t know who the Nian family offended this year. One good daughter was kidnapped as soon as she came back, and another daughter came out to lose face.”
“I see, the Nian family must have done something wicked before, else how could they have such good prospects, but then start a college to become masters?”
“En, that makes sense. But now it’s not called a college, but a school, and they aren’t masters, but teachers, because they’ve studied abroad.”[2]
It was probably a case of saying grapes are sour when you can’t eat them.
Mu Cheng shook his head. These people ah, they’d really panic if they were too idle,[3] but they don’t care about national justice.
After today, it is estimated that the news about the Nian family would be the talk of the town. He hoped that the Madam would not feel sad at that time.
Sure enough, women were sometimes a disaster, especially when they indulged in wild fantasies.
When the passersby on the street were making so much noise, how could the Nian family not become aware?
So when XunMi entered the door with Ziju BaiLin, the two households were already inside the entrance hall.
“Mom and Dad, Uncle, Aunt, DaGe, Jie.” XunMi stepped forward to greet each in turn.
“Mom and Dad, Uncle, Aunt, DaGe, Jie.” Ziju BaiLin also called out in accordance to how XunMi addressed them.
He immediately drew the attention of the Nian family. This guy was really too shameless, but forget it, who let their child fancy him?
“You’ve returned. Sit down, we already know everything, ai.”
The family head, Nian BingRong, had a complicated and disappointed look in his eyes. He heaved a sigh. How could he not care about his own daughter?
Naturally, he hoped she could be well. Wanting to bring someone into the family, and when the time came, if the whole family could be in harmony, that would be good.
But look at what this was all about. He still hadn’t yet given his agreement, and already so many rumors had started spreading outside.
“Mom and Dad, I know I shouldn’t have gotten involved today’s affairs, and I also didn’t want to. I just want you to make things clear. Regardless of whether or not Miss Hai Tang recognizes her ancestors,[4] we should at least clarify things. Dragging it out like this is not the way. What will those outsiders who don’t know us think about our Nian family? Although I’m still young...” XunMi said shamelessly, though in her heart she felt embarrassed, “but I also know that the reputation and image of the Nian family must not be ruined.”
XunMi had not chosen to sit, but rather stood in the middle of the hall as she spoke.
As soon as her words fell, Mu Cheng also brought the Female Lead in.
XunMi didn’t take the opportunity to throw stones at her while she was down, nor did she speak. The following matters were not for her to intervene in.
Nian ShuRong nevertheless was unsatisfied, and spoke mockingly: “Such a person who does not take family interests to heart at all, even if recognized and comes back, will inevitably have no place in our family.”
“ShuRong,” Nian YanHui said, “are these words that a child should say? These are your uncle’s family’s personal matters. You shut up.”
Although he approved of his daughter’s words in his heart, he still must separate their standpoint.
They could not interfere with his elder brother’s and sister-in-law’s decision, and they would not interfere. After all, it was their own private business.
ShuRong was sullen, but she didn’t want to overdo it, not when looking at the people in the hall.
At this moment, Nian Xue’er cut a sorry figure. Her hair was messy, and because she’d been struggling on the way, her clothes were disheveled.
Her eyes looking at XunMi were bursting forth with oppressive hatred.[5]
XunMi avoided her gaze. The Female Lead was too stupid. This was the Nian family, ah! She still had to hide a bit, otherwise she was afraid she’d laugh out loud.
Each member of the Nian family had their own thoughts on the situation, but nearly all had the same idea. Sure enough, those raised by the family will be different.
If they really had to choose, they will all choose XunMi who’d been raised by them from a young age.
But after all, this also involved the mistake of that year, and Nian WenHao had already discovered the specifics.
Nian BingRong knew that it was his fault at that time. Without first asking, he saw that there was an infant lying in the crib in outer room. He thought she was the one his wife had given birth to, and took her away.
Translator’s Notes
[1] So after that first sentence, I spent like 10 minutes looking up Wang BaoChuan and this 18 years business, only then to see that the author explains the story in the next few sentences. (¬_¬) Anyway, moral of the story is, devotion to one’s husband is a virtue. Sometimes Xue RenGui is written as Xue PingGui, but it’s the same story. What does this have to do with anything? Eh.
[2] The first word used 学堂 xuetang is an old fashioned word for school or college, but the speaker says it’s now called a 学校 xuexiao, the modern word for school; likewise teachers used to be called “Master” 夫子 fuzi, but now the modern term for teacher, 老师 laoshi, is used.
[3] If the implication wasn’t clear, he means they’re gossiping because they have too much free time.
[4] If one recognizes their ancestors, they are returning to their native home.
[5] I’d just like to share that the MTL version of this sentence was, “Those eyes burst into cannibalism as soon as they saw it.”