Great Tang Idyll – Chapter 52

Madam Zhang-Wang brought two people to the closest residence. This was also the abode of the oldest resident, Zhang Sheng. This year,  he is 65 years old, living with his son and his two daughters and a 9-year-old grandson. His wife passed away early.

     Madam Zhang-Wang intends to go to him first to give him these things. In the end, before she has walked there, a group of people have gathered before her. Madam Zhang-Wang was not frightened, she is after all on the lands of Zhang manor, it would not be easy to hurt her here.  She stood waiting for the crowd in front to approach.

It was only once they saw the people approaching clearly that the people next to Madam Zhang-Wang relaxed. Just now, they almost shouted for help to the entire manor. As long as they shouted, someone would come out to help.

In front of her was Zhang Sheng, whom Madam Zhang-Wang was intending to visit first today. There were many people following behind him, each carrying a lantern in their hands. It looked to be a significant number of people. Their lanterns were framed with red paper. Looking out, it looked like a red expanse.

    The two people met on the road, without waiting for Madam Zhang-Wang to say that she was going to Zhang Sheng’s home, Old man Zhang Sheng waved his hand, and the people behind him carried their lanterns and came over.

    “Madam, where are you going?” Zhang Sheng asked, hunching over.

    “Looking at the Zhang household, I was originally prepared to go to Uncle Zhang’s home first. What is Uncle Zhang doing?” Madam Zhang-Wang was confused. How did these people get together?

“Madam, everyone has been receiving benefits from the lord’s family during our usual days. We would like to repay but we don’t have much money. Since it is the 15^th of the first month, all 106 of us who usually do such crafts and works decided to each make a lantern. This old man made two extra, in total we have a hundred and eight lanterns, an auspicious number. We were just about to send these to the lord’s manor.”

Hearing this, Madam Zhang-Wang stood there so moved, she was speechless for a long while, until the person beside her nudged her. She took a deep breath and said: “Uncle Zhang, this is perfect timing. My yard still lacks lanterns, many thanks to you folks. The things you are giving to the manor, we have received, now I want to give you folks a few things.”

As she said these, with a wave of her hands, the people in the yard took the things they were holding and gifted them.  A hundred individuals gave it first, and the others went to the house.

“Uncle Zhang, these are the clothes and shoes for your family of six. This is a chicken, I picked the biggest for you. These are lanterns and candles and these are dumplings and firecrackers. There are so many things, you can’t carry all of them. How about we help carry them for you?”

    Xiao Hong came out with his wife this time, letting the person who was pushing the wheelbarrow behind him, come out in front and pass the items to Zhang Sheng. So many things, as more and more were passed to him, he couldn’t quite carry them all. Even though the lantern was a foldable silk lantern, he still couldn’t carry it all.

    “This… this… these things, madam, are you giving this old man to deliver things?” Zhang Sheng has lived for so many years, he didn’t lack this bit of insight. He watched the people in the main house holding things and pushing the wheelbarrow. The things piled up in the car like little hills, and he immediately understood.

    “Not for delivery. This is a holiday. Everyone is happy. On the other side of the small bridge, at the Xu time, there will be people performing dancing lions, and there will be some things to sell. Those things will be cheap. Everyone should go to watch the fun. I originally wanted to go from house to house to inform everyone. “

     Madam Zhang-Wang tried to control herself and try to make her tone calm. She has never seen a resident take the initiative to bring things to the main house.  Other than paying the grain, if she wanted a resident to do something, she needed to send people out to look for them. Looking at the hundred and eight lanterns shining brightly in front of her, Zhang-Wang felt that her heart was also shining brightly.

    The surrounding villagers were also listening. Hearing about lion dance, they also know that this is the paid by the main family. Otherwise, will the lion performing troupe come to this place? The roast chicken, the silk lanterns, the dumplings and the clothes etc. How much silver did the main house have to spend in order to give all these?

    The people on both sides did not know what to say. They were all dazed there, lingering beneath the pomegranate tree cultivated under the training of Zhang Xiao-Bao and Wang-Jun. When their hearts had calmed down a little, they said: “Madam, why don’t we all go to each house to check, one shichen (2 hours) would be enough”

     Madam Zhang-Wang looked at the pomegranate tree briefly and nodded with appreciation. She said, “Even better, folks, accompany me to see the families first and then send the lanterns to our yard. “

    A group of people, under the guidance of Madam Zhang-Wang, walked towards Zhang Sheng’s home, put things down and went to the next house, and told these villagers to go to the little bridge, and the villagers all wanted to kneel down and kowtow. With such a lord, this life is truly worth living.

    It was only when the last house was done, that Madam Zhang-Wang returned to the yard with a hundred and eighty lanterns, and hurried to relay her moving experience today to the old lady and the old lady.

    Wang manor naturally had Madam Wang acting, at the same time, their residents seem to have followed the residents of Zhang manor. The two manor’s villagers seem to have discussed well, and the Wang manor villagers also sent a hundred and eighty lanterns. Causing Madam Wang to also be moved to tears.

At Xu hour, all the people from both manors came out. Each family was carrying a lantern of silk. All the people were wearing new clothes. As long as they were women, whether they were young teens or old ladies, they wore light green clothes. The men wore light grey.

The clothes of the servants of both household also changed. The women all wore red, the men all wore white, they looked very dazzling.

Without waiting for the villages to reach the little bridge, one could already see that all the torches set in the manor were all lit up. Both manors formed a bright expanse of light, comparable to the moon up in the sky, bright like the stars. In their hearts, some of the villagers counted.  Once they counted clearly, they could see that the total of these torches is equal to the number of residents within the two manors, seven hundred and ninety.

    Waiting for these people to go to the small bridge, they could see that the area around the small bridge was also shining, lights dancing with the wind, many stalls were placed there, the lion dancing performers were ready.

    In an instant, it was full of excitement. The shopkeepers wearing new clothes were watching there, picking up what they needed, and the firecrackers occasionally sounded. These firecrackers were paid by Zhang Xiao-Bao and Wang-Jun and was given to the residents too. Once they go back, they’ll light up their own.

The festive atmosphere of the Zhang and Wang manors were so boisterous that the people of Ge manor couldn’t help but notice. They also wanted to come out with their lanterns at night, as a result, they could see the river shining bright with the light reflecting off the other two manor’s lanterns and the continuous beating of the drums on the other side.

The people of Ge manor were curious and they came to the little bridge to take a look. As a result, when they saw the place,  they all didn’t know what to say. Lion dance, there was actually a lion dance. How many years has it been since they have seen…

    Look at the people of the two manors over there, all the clothes they wore was the same, the lanterns were all silk.

“Xiao San, can you see? Look at the other two manors! In addition to the things that the two main families gave in the New Year, they even gave things on the fifteenth. New clothes, new clothes, silk lanterns and even torches shining across the manor! Sigh!”

One person said to the child next to him and finally could only sigh.

    Xiao San obediently nodded. “I know that their days are better than us. Didn’t the Si Gou go there? Other people directly bought silver, when can our manor do the same?”

    Others looked enviously at the other end of the bridge, only daring to look at it, but not daring to go over, their heart can be described as a mixture of five flavours.

“Wu House’s lad, Seventh aunt, you all have finally arrived! Quick come over, I made a stall here, the things are cheap, not really making much of a profit. If any of them meets your eye then go ahead and buy, oh and there is the performing lion.”

At this time, Si Gou whom Ge manor had just been mentioning came out, his body clad in a set of white silk, an inlaid crown cap on his head, even his waist was not as bent as it used to be before. His face plumper than before, his smile was unchanging.

As he spoke, he pulled a few people’s hands, while talking he led them over the bridge onto the other side. These people originally did not want to go but could not resist the excitement over there and the enthusiasm of Si Gou. Half pushing, half cajoling, they were led to the other side by Si Gou. After a short while, they adapted, looking at the performances here and looking at the stalls there to see if there was anything they wanted. Casually picking something up and asking, they found that the price really was too cheap.

With other people pioneering, other people from Ge manor also came over and looked around. Suddenly they saw that the two lords of Zhang and Wang manor were all out and laughing with the villagers.

    The old lady of the Zhang family was sitting with an old lady in the village, watching the excitement in front of her, chatting enthusiastically and laughing a few times from time to time, revealing that two teeth were lost, letting others to see as if they didn’t feel ugly.

The Zhang and Wang manors were so boisterous on their side, naturally, the Ge manor’s main family was also alerted. Ge Ying-Xi heard the loud sounds outside and was puzzled. He was currently appreciating the moon and drinking with his family. He ordered the person by his side: “Er Gou, go to that side and take a look. What is happening?”

Er Gou, who had been serving the people at the side came out and was equally curious in his heart. When he could see the situation over there, his mouth fell open, and gradually opened bigger and bigger. It is so lively over there ah, he pinched himself hard to see if he was dreaming. The pain helped him realise it was all true.

    Is this still the most remote manor in SanShui County? This may be how festive it is in the SanShui town. As he watched, Er Gou’s feet were as if they were not under his control, moving forward little by little when he saw the people of their own manor on the bridge, his legs moved even faster.

“Er Gou, you came too? Quick, come on over here, I prepared some good food over here. You see, today, anywhere with the signs of the two manors, Zhang and Wang, all the snacks can be eaten as you wish. Eat as much as you want. Come, let’s drink a bit, the money for the wine has to be paid out of our own pockets, I paid already.”

Si Gou was acquainted with Er Gou. They were usually on good terms. Si Gou was super alert, once he saw Er Gou, he hurried to pull him over.

Er Gou couldn’t control himself already and was dazedly dragged to a small table by Xu Si. The two benches were placed and he was pressed onto one by Xu Si. Two dishes were placed on the table. Er Gou didn’t even know that the two dishes were called spicy aromatic pig ears and dried phoenix skin.

///

Translation Notes:

Si Gou was renamed to Xu Si by the Zhang Manor a while back but the people of the Ge Manor might still think of him as Si Gou.

Interestingly, Si Gou = Four Dog and Er Gou = Two Dog. I think it was pretty common for naming conventions to go by birth order in the past for peasants in ancient China.

PS: Sorry for the slow updates, I got accused of poaching (another novel) and it was kinda off-putting, especially since I’m just translating because I enjoy it. I am not dropping the translations though I won’t mind if anyone else wants to pick this up. I do tend to update in irregular bursts. ヾ(_ _。）

Thanks for the readers that commented! Your comments remind me that people were still interested in new chapters and motivated me to translate this (/^▽^)/

 

Need to Propose to Seven Men What to Do! : Chapter 24

    A simple sentence that seems to exhaust all the strength of the youth, his face paled to the extreme. The red blood dripping from his wrist became the only colour in his body.

    Mo Jiu-Shao knows that Chu Mu-Yun wants to use the array to kill him.

    But he would never have thought that in such a short time, at such an unexpected moment, the child he raised would do such a crazy thing.

    At this moment, Mo Jiu-Shao clearly realized that he would never encounter a more perfect work than Chu Mu-Yun in his life.

    Such beauty, such excellence, so powerful, so mesmerizing.

    He was only twenty years old, and the child was still only a child, but what he can do is enough to shake the whole world.

    Who can think of a hand without any strength, a mortal with no cultivation, a young child, could actually bind the two demon emperors with their own power.

    If anybody says this before today, they will only be dismissed.

    But now… it’s really happening.

    Mo Jiu-Shao looked at Chu Mu-Yun without blinking.

    Ling Xuan also raised his head, his scarlet eyes completely reflecting this fragile strange young man.

‘Wrath’ never put a weak person in his sights, but at this moment, he must admit that such a waste with no cultivation has let him experience an unprecedented battle.

    Chu Mu-Yun was staring at Mo Jiu-Shao from beginning to end: “Speak, answer me!”

    “It was me.” Mo Jiu-Shao responded to him.

    Chu Mu-Yun did not know, but listening to his say it so clearly, the desperation and pain that rushed up was unbearable. He raised his lips, the smile produced was uglier than crying: “Ten years, a full ten years! You played me like a fool, watching me act foolishly, was it fun? Watching me fall in love with the murderer of my father, like a madman, was it interesting?”

    Mo Jiu-Shao did not answer him.

    Chu Mu-Yun hated him to the extreme: “How long were you going to hide this from me? Until when do you want to lie to me? Ten years, twenty years, thirty years? Until I forget the hatred I’m burdened with, until I am like a puppet on your strings? Until I regard you as my life, as my everything?”

    Mo Jiu-Shao still remained silent.

    Chu Mu-Yun however, was pushed to the edge: “Do you think… I won’t kill you?”

    Finally, Mo Jiuyu spoke: “To be killed by you, I am very happy.”

    His words were too soft. However, it suddenly angered Chu Mu-Yun: “Don’t fake it again! Don’t pretend this look! You are a devil, you are a madman, you are, you are simply heartless!”

    He seemed to have exhausted all his strength screaming at them. His whole person trembled a little and gasped.

    Mo Jiu-Shao still looked at him with a gaze as soft as water: “I will take responsibility.“

    “You shut up!” Chu Mu-Yun glared at him. If the hatred in his gaze could be turned into a sword, afraid Mu Jiu-Shao would have been killed thousands of times. “You take responsibility? What can you take responsibility for? How can you, one person afford to take responsibility for the hundreds of lives from the Chu family!”

The words were spoken. The blood surrounding him shined, the scarlet gleam gave it a sense of having its own life. The array tightened and the vitality of Mo Jiu-Shao was swallowed up.

    The immense pain did not make the emperor of Pride react. He was still calm and his eyes looked at Chu Mu-Yun.

    At this time, Ling Xuan said: “If you want Mo Jiu Shao to die, you only need to take keep your array, I will grant your wish.”

    Chu Mu-Yun did not take a single look at him, just urging the array, using the same fierce force to kill Ling Xuan.

   The Emperor of Wrath has never been a good-tempered person, his voice was getting lower and lower: “Do you think this thing can really trap me?”

    Of course, it can’t trap you.

    Zero: “The anger of the Wrath is beginning to accumulate.”

    Chu Mu-Yun: “When it climbs to 70%, tell me.”

    Wrath on the trip to the Millennium Peak was well prepared, he is keen on fighting but never reckless. Pride’s strength excited him but didn’t stun him, so that he would not underestimate the enemy.

    The fact is that he used three hundred years to cultivate a set of moves that can quickly improve his strength. Although the drawbacks are not small, he can unexpectedly counterattack at the last moment, giving people a surprise.

    I thought it would be used later, but I didn’t expect it to be forced out by such a child.

    In an instant, the black mist swelled from the surrounding of Ling Xuan, and the sudden rise of the pressure was swept away like a storm, and the originally sturdy blood red lines began to tremble slightly.

    For the first time, Mo Jiu-Shao felt a shock in his heart, and quickly looked at Chu Mu-Yun: “Withdraw the array! You can’t trap him, and then you will suffer the backlash!”

    Chu Mu-Yun did not move, just staring at him intently: “Don’t need you to tell me what to do!”

    Mo Jiu-Shao furrowed his eyebrows and calculated in his heart how to save Chu Mu-Yun from the violent retaliation of Wrath.

    Chu Mu-Yun closed his eyes, because the Zero told him, the count has risen to 69%.

    Taking a deep breath, Chu Mu-Yun’s palms were stretched out, holding dozens of light green beads. He dyed them with his own blood, then put the beads in the heart of the array. One could only see the scarlet blood flowing. A very small reverse array was formed very quickly.

    Wrath doesn’t understand the arrays, so he didn’t know what Chu Mu-Yun was doing.

    But Mo Jiu-Shao could see clearly… Even the Emperor of Pride, who was very calm in the face of death, is completely shocked at this moment: “What are you doing?”

    He asked Chu Mu-Yun, but Chu Mu-Yun was silent. Quickly placing down the symbols for this reverse array.

    Mo Jiu-Shao’s pale grey eyes darkened till they were almost inky. “Chu Mu-Yun! What are you going to do?”

    His questions were not answered. In the twinkling of an eye, the scarlet veins everywhere were swallowed up by the rich emerald green, surging from the heart of the array. The vitality reversed this extremely fierce battle like the holy light spread in hell. The dark sky was washed away in an instant, awakening the vitality of the earth, letting all despair and haze dissipate, turning the desolate hell into a blissful place.

    Almost at the moment when ‘Wrath’ broke away from bondage, all the green light shrank rapidly, and the dense lines of grain merged from a large net into a barrier, and then the emerald green light fell like a meteor on Mo Jiu-Shao.

    – The guardian of life.

    Take life as a sacrifice and exchange for the protection of a millennium.

    Mo Jiu-Shao was completely stunned, and Ling Xuan, who had broken away from the tactics, was also in the same place.

    The only young man, his white coat was completely soaked in blood. His pale face was devoid of blood. After all the light faded, he was no longer able to stand and fell onto a messy ground.

    In the same moment, Mo Jiu-Shao had already flashed in front of him. He reached out and lifted him up. He was so light, the only significant weight was that of his clothing.

    “Why?” Mo Jiu-Shao’s voice was disbelieving.

    Chu Mu-Yun looked at him, but his black eyes were empty. He exerted all his strength but could only barely opened his mouth, his voice was very soft: “I also want to know why.”

    Mo Jiu-Shao suddenly froze, and in the next moment, his voice trembled “I killed your parents, I killed the Chu family, I…”

    “Yeah.” Chu Mu-Yun interrupted him softly, “So I hate you.”

    Mo Jiu-Shao stared at him unblinkingly: “Then you should kill me.”

    Chu Mu-Yun did not respond to his sentence, he just smiled lightly, very very lightly, but the arc of his smile was thick with ridicule: “Mo Jiu-Shao… If there is an afterlife, I only ask not to meet you again.”

    This is the last sentence Chu Mu-Yun gave him, which was the only shackle that binds the rest of the emperor of Pride.

    Protected by a guardian of life. For a millennium, Ling Xuan would not want to challenge Mo Jiu-Shao again.

    Holding a young man who has completely lost his vitality and become an icy body, the Emperor of Pride will never know what Chu Mu-Yun was thinking at the last moment, and he will never understand what Chu Mu-Yun’s last sentence, ‘I also want to know why’ is asking.

    But he knows.

    Chu Mu-Yun hated him, hated to the point of wanting to kill him, but at the last moment, he used the array he prepared for a long time to save him.

    Before the fierce battle, this young man studied his all his time, how to use his life to protect him.

    But now…all is gone.

    Hate or love, leaving only one sentence.

    – If there is an afterlife, just ask to not meet again.

    Mo Jiu-Shao suddenly tried hard to hold this completely breathless body into his arms.

    Yan Junqing broke away from the formation, and when he came over from the dormitory, he saw such a scene.

    The majestic Millennium Peak became a ruin of the earth. The frost and snow in the sky seemed to wash away the sin and slowly fall, blocking the blood in the air but not making up the lost temperature.

    A dark blue long sword was inserted on the ground, and the owner of the sword was half-squatting on the ground. His jade crown was scattered, and the blue silk splashed down like an ink. Everything around his was covered in frost.

    He holds a man in his arms, cautiously, as if he is holding his life’s treasure. He clearly cherished him.

    What Yan Junqing’s feared still happened. The scene he didn’t want to see was still in front of him.

    The young man was stunned and took a step forward. The voice was extremely difficult: “Emperor, Brother Yun…he…”

    Mo Jiu-Shao did not move, but spit out a word without inflection with a cold voice: “Leave. “

    ***

    Chu Mu-Yun was ’dead’, he thought he would be like a soul, floating in the air, being able to admire his ‘masterpiece’, but unfortunately, from his last breath, he fell into darkness, Nothing can be seen, nothing can be heard, no sensation at all… What is unexpected is that it is quite worrying.

    Chu Mu-Yun: “00, are you there?”

    Zero: “…”

    Chu Mu-Yun: “Well?”

    Zero did not say anything, and Chu Mu-Yun just wanted to continue to ask, but suddenly it was bright, he just stunned the moment he opened his eyes, the airflow swept by his eyes.

    Then he felt that his body was blown really far, then it bounced back after hitting the wall. It was not as painful as expected, but the sensation could not be said to be good.

    Chu Mu-Yun wanted to stand up, but suddenly found something strange.

    Bowing and shaking, Chu Mu-Yun was shocked by his furry paws and the tail behind him.

    The author has something to say: Well, why does the zero baby not speak out… cough and cough…

————

Translator: Hi, I would like to clarify that I’m not the translator that has been doing this series and I don’t have any intention of taking over the series. This is a one time translation. Sorry for any misunderstandings.

Great Tang Idyll – Chapter 51

Do you guys prefer their names like :

A. Song Jing Gong

B. Song JingGong

C. Song Jinggong

Also, I was previously following the previous translation in addressing expert as adept but basically it has the meaning of wise man and could be either.

Mmm, should I use just the name or add the title: (Cheng Xiang Ling or The County Commander)

---

Cheng Xiang Ling led at the front. At the same time, he gave the county magistrate Zhang Ming Sheng a wink. Zhang Ming Sheng slightly pointed his head down to indicate that he understood, following the group from behind and looked for Song Jing Gong.

“Song gong zi, has there been any changes?” Zhang Mingsheng was not too anxious, he felt that since the Song Jing Gong had already arranged the place, it shows that he had already made preparations, pulling Song Jing Gong to the back to whisper.

“En, this time, no matter what, we must delay the people over here. When the time comes, they will have.” Song JingGong said softly.

“How can we delay? I can see that Chen Yong has bad intentions.”

“Simple, you just do this …” Song JingGong relayed Zhang Xiaobao’s methods have been told. He himself admires Zhang XiaoBao’s plan, the little guy is really too amazing.

Zhang Ming Sheng had not had much contact with Song Jing Gong. He had occasionally heard that this Song JingGong had an expert (adept) advising him. Since Song JingGong came today, Zhang Mingsheng felt that this matter must be related to the adept and he listened carefully, he wanted to know what kind of ideas that adept come up with.

Zhang Mingsheng found that after listening for a short while, the more he heard, the more surprised he was. Later, his mouth fell open, uncaring about the breeze poured into the stomach, waiting to hear till the end. Until Song Jinggong rushed two steps to the front, only then did Zhang MingSheng react. It was only then that he reacted. That adept really was not simple. No wonder the commander said that it was necessary to keep the manor’s secret. It wasn’t afraid that the manor’s information would leak out, but he was afraid that the adept would be angry.

Thinking of this, he looked with pity on Chen Yong, who was walking in front and talking with the county chiefs. He shook his head and followed him forward. He wanted to find a chance to say things to the county commander. After all, this situation was related to the county commander, such as there might be some shortcomings or the final imperial report to submit, the county commander must be prepared.

Since the pedestrians do not have a ride, they slowly walk away. Seemingly as though they are comparing their patience and concentration but also seems to be the using this time to consider future events.

Waiting till the moment, everyone to reach the door of Thousand Water (Qian Chang Zhen Shui) Pavilion. Thousand Water Pavilion lit up 50,000 heads of firecrackers, thunderous crackling filled the air. Chen Yong and others who didn’t know the truth were frightened to the point they didn’t dare to take another step.

Even when the firecrackers were finished, everyone could still hear ringing in their ears.

“Cheng Xian Ling, what is this? Why is there such as loud commotion? Is there anyone trying to act against the auspicious sign?” Chen Yong shouted at the county commander. Actually, what he meant was, will there be anyone trying to act against me?

“darens don’t have to worry about this. It’s called a firecracker. It was made by a businessman. It was designed for festive occasions. It can also be used for the townhouse and the hospital, just like the thirty-sixth firecrackers.” The Cheng Xian Ling euphemistically explained.

Chen Yong’s group understood it instantly, so there was actually so many benefits to this thing. He didn’t wait for Chen Yong to speak. The next person interrupted and asked:

“Cheng Xian Ling, is it that this firecracker is only made in your county. I haven’t heard of it elsewhere. If it is really unusual, the sound is louder than the usual firecracker.”

“It is so. This thing that is only present in this county. If you all want to bring back some things, the official will prepare for it.” The Cheng Xian Ling knows what to do with the firecrackers, should spread it out there. The people from the manor are still expecting to make money from this. Thus the more people know of it, the better, but he still did not say who, just say a businessman, he is afraid these people will go to see.

Hearing him say this, Chen Yong was also tempted by the crowd. They did wish to use it for celebration, but they thought of another use. Chen Yong also spoke up.

“Cheng Xian Ling, I do not know the value of these things? If it is too expensive, I must not collect, we must not do things that rob the wealth of others.”

“darens can rest assured, the firecrackers are cheap. We only heard that it was 50,000 heads. This county has prepared 200,000 heads this year. It will be set off today. It will be a full moon on this year’s 15th. Then, we still wish to invite darens to enjoy viewing lanterns, sharing the joy with the common people.”

Cheng Xianling replied. He still didn’t say much money. He didn’t know how much money Zhang manor was planning to set when they were going to sell, and he feared that once he set the price, he would end up sabotaging them if they wanted to sell at a high price in a future.

Chen Yong and these people no longer asked. If you say it is cheap, then it is cheap. Even if it is expensive, you buy I also pretend it is cheap, but in their hearts, these people have given the firecrackers a high price. Looking at the fifty thousand heads of firecrackers, could not have produced those sounds without burning through dozens of dollars.

At the invitation of the restaurant owner, the party went to the third floor and the tea was poured first. They did not have to say anything. The restaurant started serving. The eight cool dishes were served first. There was a dish of cucumber, mixed with mushroom silk, the important point was the restaurant did not find any golden mushrooms.

Eating a bit here, there would be a hot dish over there to match the dish here. Dishes were sent one after another. Only counting the cucumber dishes, there were three cucumber hot dishes, cucumber stir-fried with dry bamboo shoots, cucumber scrambled eggs, cucumber with river fish, there was even a cucumber soup that has yet to be served.

Other than the cucumber, there was also plenty of carrots. A full four courses, two side-courses were made, the rest was made from the other dried vegetables, the whole table did not have a pure meat dish, this was also instructed by Zhang Xiaobao. Just after the completion of the new year, everyone just ate meat. Who would still like to continue eating, only light dishes would be delicious.

The reality was as he said. Everyone sat down in several tables. Before the hot dish was served, the first thing they ate was the cucumber, munching on cucumber and mushroom silk throughout the meal. In the end, the pleasant and light feeling lingered in their mouth, a scent of fresh cucumber, it was even better than the cucumber they ate. Clearly, this cucumber was just picked.

When waiting for hot dishes, carrots were served, everyone was surprised. Everyone did not dare to put start eating. What is this thing?

Cheng Xian Ling had to come forward and introduce “Darens, this is called a carrot, the food of the northerners. It tastes quite good and it’s good for the body. This country still has some, and when you get there, darens can bring back some to enjoy.”

Having finished speaking, Cheng Xian Ling himself first ate a carrot to prove that there was no problem with this item.

With him taking the lead. Others were naturally relieved. One by one, they were openly started eating. Till they were completely stuffed. Some waiters swapped out the food, putting out some dried fruits, and the most important, a big plate of cucumber slices. There was also a dish placed in front of every person, a fishy aroma rose from the dishes.

Cheng Xian Ling also has not seen this before. He glanced briefly at the waiter, and the waiter immediately came towards him and he said to the Cheng Xianling: “This is what Song GongZi just brought in, it is called shrimp paste, for darens to dip the cucumbers in before eating. In a moment, we will serve a hot sauce, two kinds of sauces, and two tastes.”

“En.” Cheng Xian Ling slightly waved his hand dismissing the waiter and was quite satisfied with the waiter’s diligence. Once the waiter left, he picked up a piece of cucumber from the dish in front and dipped it in the container, when he lifted it to his mouth, he said:

“Darens, this is a shrimp paste, and it is eaten by with cucumbers. It is crispy and delicious. Try it.”

Someone took a demonstration. Others followed suit. It wasn’t that they were afraid of being poisoned. They were afraid that they wouldn’t know how to eat. They would be made fun of. One by one, try this, it was indeed different and delicious. People who originally felt full seemed to have an appetite again.

While drinking wine, while eating, they conversed on neutral topics.

This was also Zhang Xiaobao’s arrangement. In order to delay these people, Zhang Xiaobao took all the details into consideration. The amount of alcohol, they drank was not a lot. But the alcohol takes up a lot of space. After they have finished eating, their stomachs are not really full. Since it is so, give them time to digest and expel the water.,

“Good, this auspicious shrimp sauce is delicious, the light smell of this shrimp paste is not fishy, only fresh. But once it is dipped with the auspicious cucumber and eaten, this feeling instantly disappeared, and then it is refreshing and delicious. This shrimp paste is on a whole other level than just dipping it in the simple sauce. What do you all think?

One person eats the cucumber with shrimp paste and praises it there. Others originally just think it’s good to eat. Listening to him, this is really the case. All of them are full of praises.

Immediately afterwards, the hot sauce was also brought in. The hot sauce was also brought by Song JingGong. This special production was even spicier. The spicy food was really satisfying. The cucumber was brought in again on a large plate and it was finished in a short amount of time.

They also gradually drank more wine, the water can be discharged, usually this would not cause any problems with the human body, the wine will be expelled too but instead will remain in the blood, the alcohol slowly accumulated, then there would not be many that could still think about doing work.

The meal was eaten for four whole hours and by then nothing could be done. Only had time to wait for a slight sobering before going to see how Sanshui County’s Yuan Xi (festive date) passed.

When the officers were eating with Cheng XianLing, they were also having their meal at the Zhang manor. Zhang Xiaobao and Wang Jun’s bodies now needed more than just milk. Both of them took the initiative to wean themselves, eating dinner together. Mostly eating cake, and some slowly boiled meat porridge.

The people in the yard all know that the two young ancestors have a large appetite and they are often hungry. In the kitchen, there are people available during the twelve hours.

Before lunch, Zhang Xiaobao and Wang Jun ate the cake made from 3 eggs, then went to the outside for two quarters and returned for lunch. Thick rice cake was cut into pieces. The shrimp sauce, plus a bit of cucumber and garlic was the meal for two people at noon.

This time, Zhang Xiaobao and Wang Jun ate slowly, especially the meat, they must chew more. If it was just for growing, they would not eat so much, the protein content of egg white is too high, but they are plotting all day long. Not just their studies, but also managing their own assets, the energy expenditure of the brain was very large.

“Xiaobao, everything is prepared there. In a while, are we going to hand out things in person or let others send them?”

Wang Jun drank the bowl of porridge in front of her, was a little stuffed and lay there as she asked.

“Let my mother do it. This is not suitable for us to come out. We don’t know what happened to Cheng XianLing. This fifteenth day of the first month is exhausting.” Zhang Xiaobao also had enough food and lay there complaining.

Fifteenth, some children feel that time is slow, some were hot and feel the time was too fast. Seeing that it was almost time, Steward Zhang personally brought a group of people to the outside. Those people were carrying many things in their hands.

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Great Tang Idyll – Summary & Character Intro

Summary

The greatest con-man and a policewoman sent to capture him die to save a hostage.

Zhang Xiao Bao is the conman => now the heir of Zhang manor (age 1?)

Wang Juan is the policewoman => now the fiancee of Zhang Xiao Bao and child (heir?) of Wang manor.

They woke up as babies in Zhang manor and start training their bodies and scheming so that Xiao Bao’s family will be able to retain their (100 head tax exemption) land.

• Made an oven to sell grilled fish strips.
  • Also allowed the family of the servant helping him with this (Er Niu, his brother Da Niu and general family members) to profit greatly.
• Made hot pot.
• Sold spicy sauce (eaten with flat cakes) to restaurants. This is made from wild plants on the mountainside that he arranged for people to go collect.
• Set up an egg incubator (Servant Ying Tao assigned to this) and then hatched a ridiculous amount of chickens. Uses firewood, discarded egg shells and general unwanted fish bits from the market to breed worms and serve as food for the chickens. Chicks were also herded to eat grasshoppers during harvesting seasons – helped tenants of Gu, Zhang and Wang manor a ton.
• Turned the tables on a swindler that tried to cheat them and converted him into a minion.
• Sold carrots and soybean oil to restaurants.
• Soybean oil and white sugar was also sold to aristocratic families
• Grew cucumber during winter and sold it – was packaged as an auspicious sign from the heavens and helped the county magistrate in his career.
• Also provided grains for the county magistrate (Cheng XianLing) to pass out to the people during the new years. Bribery essentially allowing the magistrate to create a good reputation amongst the people.
• Repaired the houses, provided lots of food & clothing gifts to the tenants of the Zhang and Wang manors. Made a Kang (warm bed stove) in their houses, provided materials for lanterns. Compensated them well for their work. General good treatment of the people.
• Created a general store on their lands for their people.
• Neighbouring Gu manor has tenants that are very envious and a troubled lord (and his spoiled child).
• They made firecrackers with a modified version of gunpowder that is now sold to tenants (CNY tradition to scare away demons), given to the magistrate & new restaurants (publicity). Firecrackers are made in both the Zhang and Wang Manor.

Characters

Minions:

Zi Jin – Song Jing Gong: a scholar turned swindler that cheats rich people who they turned the tables on. They drove him to the edge of desperation by turning his schemes against him before impressing him with their scholarly knowledge and general intelligence. He is the minion that liaises with the magistrate and handles business matters (soybean oil, white sugar). He is currently involved in the selling of cucumbers during winter (marketed as an auspicious sign)

Xu Si: Previously a person of the Gu manor (neighbouring manor), they recruited him when they noticed he was smart. Currently assigned to handle the market fair.

Servants:

Er Niu: assigned to make spicy sauce, made grilled fish strips and his family helps with business (selling carrots).

Ying Tao: assigned to hatching chickens using a heated bed to incubate the eggs.

Xiao Hong: assigned to the ducks and geese (herds them to the pond).

Shi Liu: servant that is currently at their side.

Government:

Cheng Ling Xiang (Cheng XianLing): County Magistrate – he is a good guy that has been bribed a ton by Zhang Xiao Bao and Wang Jun through ZiJin (Song Jing Gong). He knows that there is an adept (wise guy) at the manor but thinks it is a reclusive old guy.

Chen Yong: State Secretary that plotted against Cheng XianLing (county magistrate). He was assigned to verify the auspicious sign of the cucumber by the emperor.

Misc:

Zhou Xi Hui: Nephew of important guy. Tried to sabotage their soybean oil business but has been converted to a business partner in the sale of white sugar.

Zhang manor has:

• Zhang Xiao Bao’s mom (super devoted to her child)
• Zhang Xiao Bao’s dad (scholar – bookworm & kinda henpecked)
• Zhang Xiao Bao’s grandpa & Zhang Xiao Bao’s grandma
• Steward: devoted to the family
• Tenants (people who work the land): all are super grateful to Zhang Xiao Bao and Wang Jun as they have helped improve their lives a ton.

Great Tang Idyll – Chapter 50

Hey 🙂

I just decided to pick up this project because I really love the clever schemes, Zhang Xiao Bao comes up with ^__^ but my Chinese is not really that fantastic =.=” I am looking for a beta and would really appreciate any corrections if you see I translated something incorrectly.

Here is a summary of the previous 49 chapters (will be updated as story progresses so might contain spoilers) – also a character guide.

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The situation in Chengshui province, Sanshui country was not as relaxed as Zhang Xiaobao and Wang Jun right now. Cheng Xianling had been standing outside, leading a group of people to wait for more than half an hour. Most of the snow had yet to melt. The cold wind blew and the people standing outside felt completely frozen.

Cheng XianLing knew the person who was coming down this time was Chen Gong, who had joined the army and was not sympathetic to his colleague Zhou Yi. He was closer to Zhou Yi. After all, his nephew was here.

We originally agreed to meet at Chen time but it’s almost noon (Wu time). Looking at the current situation, they are doing this on purpose. Cheng XianLing endured the rage in his heart and could only continue to wait here. The difference of a level (1 ping), not to mention that he was sent here regarding a special issue, if he really delayed them, they might send a report to censor him saying that this side is slow and inauspicious.

“Daren perhaps you should first enter the carriage to warm yourself up a little. I’ll wait here and watch over the situation, it’s not too late to come out when the people reach here.” The county magistrate Zhang Ming Sheng who was at a side noticed that Cheng XianLing’s expression was bad, gently whispered.

Cheng XianLing did want to go in the carriage to get warm but as he looked at country Magistrate Zhao Xiang besides him, he suppressed the idea. Zhao Xiang is the Magistrate and there are some restrictions on him. Usually their relationship is neither close nor distant. Fortunately, Zhao Xiang has never done anything bad.

Usually this Zhao Xiang is rather impartial. Who knows that at this time he has entered the scene, will he impeach him? Seeing him standing so straight without speaking, giving off the impression that the weather wasn’t really that cold.

It was almost noon already. Other than Zhao Xiang who is expressionless as usual, the others were already a little impatient and shuffling around.

People pass by time from time, knowing that they are waiting for someone. They speculated hat SanShui County has encountered auspicious things. If it was another time of the year they would stay to look at it but today was the 15th, none of them stayed.

After waiting for a quarter of an hour, there was finally a team of people in the distance. There was a flag bearer in the front and a carriage in the back. They are finally here.

Sanshui County’s people started getting more active, preparing to see the ceremony in a little while. As the team is getting closer, Cheng XianLing dismissed the idea of waiting there and instead led people to meet up. The moment they met, Cheng XianLing said:

“Cheng XianLing, the province commander of Sanshui County welcomes inspection officer of the auspicious case, State Secretary Chen Yong.”

After a while, the carriage door was opened and one person came out. It was the State Secretary Chen Yong. Chen Yong was expressionless as he exited, he nodded slightly and said:

“Cheng XianLing, I was ordered by the emperor to come verify the auspicious sign case. The weather on the road was bad and there was a delay. I will set off to go take a look now. I heard that the auspicious sign originated from a manor.

Hearing this, the province magistrate was secretly cursing in his heart. What weather is bad. August 15 Last year was a bright sunny day. Hence this year’s should also be the same. Want to go to the manor? Are you dreaming? How could the manor still have cucumbers inside? How can I let you go?

Although he thought this is in his heart, he maintained a smile on his face. “Chen daren, the auspicious sign is no longer in that manor. It has already been moved to a place on the banks of the LuoShui River that belongs to this county. If daren wishes to see the auspicious sign, it is better to just go there.

State Secretary Chen Yong heard the words of Cheng XianLing and faltered for a moment. He didn’t think that they would act so fast and move the cucumbers over. He originally intended to head towards the manor. After-all, the manor would only have some ordinary people. As long as the county commander had any little mistake, he could criticise Cheng XianLing, censuring his for being slow and inauspicious.

But now that it has been moved, he can no longer go to the manor. Else Cheng XianLing could censure him, questioning whether he was here to examine the auspicious sign or to examine the manor.

“In that case, take this officer (himself) to see.” Seeing that his initial plans could no longer be used, Chen Yong didn’t say much. The procession of people did not have time to eat a bite before they had to proceed there.

Although it was said to be a place on the banks of LuoShui River, in reality it was near a tributary of LuoShui River, the ordinary people called this the little LuoShui but the Cheng county commander did not like this name.

The little LuoShui was not as far away as the real LuoShui. It wasn’t that close though. It took more than an hour before it reached the place, a pedestrian stopped and saw the location which was engulfed in cloth.

“This is the auspicious sign, the cucumbers?” Chen Yong pointed as he asked with a calm countenance.

“Exactly so, daren you may come in to take a look.” The country magistrate Zhang Ming Sheng came to answer, opening the cloth.

“county commander Cheng XianLing, do you know your crime?” Chen Yong did not accept the county magistrate’s words but instead looked at the county commander in the eyes and questioned.

“This subordinate officer does not know what crimes he has committed?” Cheng XianLing was no longer smiling. You simply came here to pick faults! What crimes? The crime of giving you too little cucumber to eat?

The purpose of State Secretary Chen Yong this time is very clear, to leave the benefits of this auspicious sign to the state (Zhou li), to find fault with the prefectural order. When the time came, to blame him of a crime and consign him to death. He simply had to accuse Cheng XianLing of a crime and his merits would be offset by his crimes.

Hearing Cheng XianLing’s questioning response, he pointed to the river in front while saying coldly. “As the spring comes, the snow thaws and the river is getting higher. You moved the auspicious sign here. What is your motive? Did you want the river to wash away the auspicious sign? Weakening our country?”

This statement was grave and the crime implied could lead to mass execution of his clan. If it was another person, this would be the time to confess that we have not done enough. Cheng XianLing was simply not concerned. Since they were no longer keeping up appearances, then just come at me! He also made a dismissive noise.

“Chen Yong, are you trying to interfere in the affairs of water conservancy? Do you understand more about water conservancy? If you are talking on this topic, Chen Yong seems to be more experienced than you. Now, if you want to be a provincial governor, yes, then you can ask everything.”

“You… You are slandering me!” Chen Yong was given a fright, he was now even more frightened than Cheng Xian Ling. It was impossible for his superiors to agree to the crime he wanted to push onto Cheng Xian Ling, he just wanted Cheng Xian Ling to retreat.

But now Cheng Xian Ling managed to turn the tables and accuse him of a crime. This was a much smaller crime. But the many followers beside him could hear and pass this on to the provincial governor. He could predict the future consequences of that.

And it would not have been just the governor that was unhappy. His other colleagues (wu shi) would also find him unpleasant, especially regarding this issue of interfering with water conservancy. If the governor is really angered and wants him to govern then he will be in big trouble.

When Chen Yong was still thinking about the consequences, Cheng Xian Ling continued: “Since State Secretary intends to help manage the water conservancy, I will definitely lend a helping hand, and send up a report so that the division will join the army regarding the water conservancy project. At that time I will have to trouble these daren here to testify.

The daren he spoke to were naturally those who followed Chen Yong here. They were not all from the same faction. They each had their own backers and factions. Among them were those who opposed Chen Yong.

“Cheng XianLing, Brother Cheng, dear brother those were all joke, just jokes. I learnt that this place was auspicious under your jurisdiction and was happy for you and feared that you would be negligent and lose the royal grace. Thus I used jokes to remind you.”

Chen Yong no longer cared about his dignity. If Cheng Xian Ling really submitted such a report up, the first victim would be him. Desperate he could only coax him, calling him intimately even addressing him as my dear brother. He even started smiling. As for the thoughts of others, he could not control it.

“As older brother said, it is a joke. Please head inside, first examine the auspicious sign.” Cheng XianLing also had to step back at the moment, first establish the veracity of the auspicious sign before anything else. He was also troubled. How to stop this person who was deliberately picking at flaws from going to the Zhang manor?

This was really difficult to do. Should this Chen Yong insist on going to the place where an auspicious sign appeared. What excuse should he use to block it?

“Good, good, please go ahead dear brother.” Chen Yong laughed and agreed. He ordered a person to go in front and lift up the cloth revealing a green expanse of succulent cucumbers.

Many of the cucumbers sent by the county magistrate had been eaten by the people here. The feeling they got when they were eating and the feeling they got when seeing the cucumbers hanging from the vein was another feeling. It was such a cold day, seeing the green cucumbers hanging there, they got a sense of joy. No wonder they said it was auspicious. Even if the emperor himself came and saw, they believed he would also feel the same sentiment.

Everyone was watching, like the people who saw this for the first time. They all wanted to personally pluck one down, without even washing it, rubbing it lightly before taking a bite. That feeling would definitely be different.

“Surrounding darens, please take a look. This is the cucumber that fell from the vine some time ago, some of the cucumbers have already fallen and their vines have withered, some are still growing. Yesterday, when I was here, this cucumber here was only two inches long but today it has grown to three inches. I believe this is an auspicious sign of the new dynasty.

The county commander Cheng XianLing introduced this to the crowds. The people quickly nodded their heads and no one dared to say anything. According to Cheng XianLing’s words of the auspicious timing, it was Kaiyuan Year 2 and hence was the new dynasty.

Chen Yong originally still wanted to find some flaws but listening to Cheng XianLing explaining it as such, he could only give up.

The auspicious sign has been verified and hence this matter has been settled. Some people wanted to take some away and Cheng XianLing agreed. It is still unknown how many would survive, regardless of who wanted to use this to advance their careers, as long as he survived, its good.

Since things have been set, then let’s eat. Everyone is hungry. Cheng XianLing originally intended to move to the GuanShi Pavilion. Before he could speak, Song JingGong ran over breathlessly. He just arrived riding a horse, only first contacted the QianChang Pavilion.

The store was opened by people from other places. It is clear that the store is not only willing to arrange places, but also does not need a penny.

“ZiJin (Song JingGong’s scholar name), What matter has you in such a hurry?” Cheng XianLing saw Song JingGong run over so hurriedly and felt anxious.

“Daren, this student has complied with your orders and reserved a good place in the QianChang Pavilion.” Song JingGong replied respectfully.

“Oh, yes, this is the case. If ZiJin had not said it, this officer would have forgotten it. Darens the place to eat at has been chosen, it is best to go with them.”

The county commander made a sign of relief, and headed towards the QianChang Pavilion.

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Link to the raws: http://www.wxdzs.net/wxchapter/58518.html

PS: You should be reading this on AlwaysInADream