Chapter (7/22)
Chapter 87: After three years – Part 2
Facing Pei-shi’s cordiality, Yun Lingyan was somewhat uneasy; however, Lingxuan was quite easy-mannered, appearing quite different.
“Many thanks to eldest bomu for your care. Xuan’er and younger sister have been observing mourning for father and mother and were grievous, but naturally, we didn’t dare to goof off, “If she appears to be plump, don’t know how others would see her as.
伯母 (bómǔ): father’s older brother’s wife
“Poor thing, now that your filial piety is over, if your parents from the heavens know about this, they would be relieved. Eldest bomu had a sumptuous meal prepared for you. Have a good meal here so as to properly nourish yourself. You are in the growing stage, don’t harm your body,” Pei-shi enthusiastically called out them, looking at them with her eyes reddened.
Pei-shi has two di sons, but does not have a daughter. But Yun Xiao has daughters, but all of them were shu-born. Thus, at this moment, when they saw their mother treat Yun jia’s sisters with cordiality, and even treating Yun Lingyan, a shu daughter, as such, they were green with envy.
(Yun Xiao – Eldest Master of Yun fu, Yun Lingxuan’s eldest uncle)
Mother had never treated them as such.
If it was only Yun Lingxuan, they could accept, she was fourth branch’s, Yun jia’s di young lady. But what was Yun Lingyan regarded as? The fourth branch’s shu daughter came to Yun fu to fight for the favor, what does she wish to do?
Everyone harbored different thoughts; only Pei-shi and Jiang-shi were the happiest and grateful for Yun Lingxuan from the bottom of their hearts.
Seeing Yunke-shi, Lingxuan choked with emotions, but she didn’t break into tears with Pei-shi’s bantering and interruption.
“Zumu, didn’t you say di and shu should be differentiated? Then why is younger sister Xuan’er showing so much consideration for Yan’er? Isn’t she shu-born? How can she sit together with us, di-borns?” The second branch’s eldest daughter, Cao-shi’s and Yun Mo’s di daughter, Yun He, inquisitively asked.
(Zumu: Paternal grandmother)
Almost all of the names in the Yun fu were comprised of only two characters; only the names of the two sisters of Yun jia have three characters, which were chosen by Shangguan Yuan.
Yun He and Yun Lingxuan were the same age, and currently, both of them were 13 years old, with only a two-month difference among them.
Upon hearing Yun He’s words, everyone’s complexions changed as their eyes fell on Yun Lingyan, making her somewhat flustered; nevertheless, not to the point of losing her head.
自乱阵脚 (zìluànzhènjiǎo): (idiom) to lose one’s head / to panic / to go to pieces
Bai mama’s three years of teaching weren’t for naught.
Upon hearing Yun He’s words, Yun Lingxuan faintly smiled, her lips pursed appropriately as she said: “Elder sister He, why are you asking zumu about this? How would zumu be aware of the matters of Yun jia?” Her not addressing her by birth order means Yun Lingxuan had not taken Yun He into consideration, and would be unlikely for her to get intimate with her in the future. “I simply feel that Yan’er is also my father’s daughter, and only we two sisters are the remaining ones in the family. As such, what di and shu are there to speak of? Supporting one another is important. That’s why, in front of my parent’s coffin, I had Yan’er adopted under my mother’s name, as such, she is regarded as Yun jia’s di second lady…. don’t know if the elder sister has understood now or not?”
(In China, if you have more than one family member with the same relationship, it is important to address them according to their birth order, status, and seniority relative to yours.)
Both were of the same age, yet Lingxuan’s words were appropriate, while Yun He’s seemed to be somewhat overbearing.
“Xuan’er don’t mind her. Eat a bit more. Yan’er, you too. See how thin you have become. In the future, you won’t look good,” Yun Bo has grown up and has also become good at teasing one fitting to the occasion.
“Fifth elder brother,” Yan’er softly yelled, appearing a little pitiful.
“Fifth elder brother, I know you are thick-skinned, but you are not allowed to bully Yan’er. Otherwise, I will get you for that,” Lingxuan also didn’t want to let the mood around freeze. Although Yun He didn’t seem to like her, she was, after all, only thirteen years old, and didn’t want to haggle with her. Thus, she deliberately changed the topic, shifting the topic to Yun Bo.
It’s just that it would have been better if she hadn’t opened her mouth. Now that she spoke, the stark contrast between the appellations of elder sister He and fifth elder brother has become clear.
“Exactly, how old is Yan’er for you to tease her like that,” Jiang-shi rebuked Yun Bo from the side, while picking up chopsticks and added a few pieces of meat into Yan’er’s bowl, and said feeling distressed: “However ah, what you fifth elder brother has said is right. You sisters have to eat more; you both are so skinny, even your younger sister might have been surpassed both of you!”
(T/N: I am not sure what Jiang-shi means here. But if am I not wrong, I think she meant even their younger sister is plumper than both of them combined? But, here Jiang-shi had these words with underlying meaning so as to tease her daughter. I am not sure, so I have left it as it is (⊙_⊙;). Sorry for the inconvenience ~(>_<。)＼)
“Mother, are you saying that I am fat?” A young girl coquettishly asked. This was Jiang-shi’s and Yun Feng’s youngest daughter, and also the youngest one in entire Yun fu. This year she was seven years old and was called Yun Su. She was also the most favored in Yun jia.
“Ayo, this little ghost, I have just spoken few words, yet she is already discontent,” Jiang-shi couldn’t help but smile when she said this, her eyes full of doting.
Owing to Yun Bo’s and Jiang-shi’s bantering, Yun He’s awkwardness diminished. However, from this point, the hatred between Yun fu’s second branch and Yun Lingxuan has been set.
Lingxuan was a person with propriety. As such, why would she not get close to Cao-shi and Yun He, and even did not hesitate to offend them? Because she remembered in the previous life, the ones who betrayed everyone from Yun family were precisely these mother-daughter pair.
(I have used Yun family, to collectively include both Yun jia and Yun fu.)
She was well aware of the suppressed gloominess in Cao-shi’s eyes and the deep discontentment she held towards her. Because she had reminded the second bo to attach the importance to a shu son, Yun Ya …… When Yu Ya tried to save her in her previous life, Cao-shi insulted him, saying that he was not worthy of being a member of the Yun family. But in the end, she was one who had betrayed the entire Yun family.
伯 (bó): father’s older brother
When they were facing the guillotine for execution, these two hid in the crowd. The second bo merely sighed for unable being able to see them clearly. However, he didn’t hate them because they are many people like them who can do anything to live longer.
But in this life, she absolutely would not allow this pair of mother and daughter to frame Yun family.
Naturally, Yunke-shi, who could also perceive Lingxuan’s discontentment concealed in her words, looked pensively at her.
Lingxuan treated everyone with kindness. She spared no pains or efforts to help her several tangge, wishing her older brothers to soar, to make Yun fu to higher heights. As she was able to put up with Yun fu’s sons, she would also be able to tolerate Yun fu’s girls.
不遗余力 (bùyíyúlì): to spare no pains or effort (idiom); to do one’s utmost
堂哥 (tánggē): older male patrilineal cousin
All the girls will get married and are unlikely to affect Yun fu. Moreover, she is also only cold and detached towards Yun He. Could it be that something had happened in between unbeknownst to her?
“Elder sister Yan’er, tell Su’er what can she eat and not get fat?” To Yun Su, the two sisters of the Yun jia have always been strange existences in her heart because she seldom meets them. But she had always heard her parents and older brother speak about them, so she wasn’t unfamiliar.
She looked chubby and adorable, but she felt she doesn’t look good in skirts. Thus, she asked so as to learn from them.
“Pff,” Hearing her words, Yan’er couldn’t help but laugh. She put her hand around her, and confidently said: “Su’er is naturally beautiful. You haven’t seen it, but when Yan’er and elder sister came by the door, eldest bomu held both of her hands and said that both of us are very thin and are not sign of good fortune. Thus, Su’er can’t not eat and become thin, alright? “
LAZY BIRD TRANSLATIONS 