Chapter 199 – College Days
In the evening, Yang Yi invited Guo Ziyi and Ding Xiang to come to his house for dinner, mainly for the small party that would be held at his house the next day. Yang Yi couldn’t handle it alone, so he asked Guo Ziyi and Ding Xiang to come and help.
“It’s not for nothing. I’ll give you both a big red envelope!” Yang Yi said with a smile to the two as he picked up food for his daughter.
This guy has become more and more familiar with Chinese customs and relationships, and has even bought books to learn about it. Even the tradition of giving red envelopes, he learned it from a book.
“No need, no need!” Ding Xiang and Guo Ziyi almost waved their hands together, and said in unison.
Xixi was happily eating her food, with her big eyes staring at Ding Xiang and occasionally glancing at Guo Ziyi. She knew them both, but this was the first time Xixi had seen them together!
Guo Ziyi laughed and said, “Big brother Yang, you know I’m not short on money. I come to help, and I can even get free food and drinks. Why would I want a red envelope? Why don’t you give both red envelopes to my Senior sister?”
What is a Senior sister?
Xixi’s eyes lit up like light bulbs, she seemed to have a question!
However, at this time, Xixi was dealing with a piece of crispy and sweet Braised pork belly, so she didn’t have time to ask.
“I don’t want it either.” Ding Xiang blushed and waved her hand. “Big brother Yang already gave me such a good job and gave me such a generous salary. How can I still ask for money?”
“Salary is salary. I’m asking for you to come here and help during your off time…” Yang Yi tried to persuade her.
But Ding Xiang said firmly, “Really no need, Big Brother Yang. Just let me help you.”
Yang Yi wasn’t a fussy person. He shrugged his shoulder and smiled before giving up.
“What Big Brother Yang gives you, just take it.” Guo Ziyi said, his mouth stuffed with food. He was really fussing about it.
At this moment, Xixi, who had been holding back her question for a long time, finally finished the big piece of braised pork belly. She pouted her greasy little mouth and excitedly asked, “Uncle Guo, is Big Sister Ding Xiang your girlfriend?”
Girlfriend?
Upon hearing his daughter’s innocent question, Yang Yi was not amused but became alert. Where did Xixi learn this word? Did someone confess to her in kindergarten? Which kid who doesn’t know what’s good for them was it??!!1“哪个不开眼的小子” is a Chinese slang term that can be translated to “which idiot doesn’t have eyes” or “who doesn’t know what’s good for them”
Guo Ziyi and Ding Xiang were both greatly embarrassed by the sudden question from the little girl.
Ding Xiang and Guo Ziyi quickly waved their hands and unanimously denied it.
“Xixi, where did you hear that word from? Girlfriend?” Yang Yi asked calmly as he picked up some food for his daughter.
The little girl was disappointed with Ding Xiang and Guo Ziyi’s denial, thinking she had guessed correctly. Faced with her father’s question, Xixi casually replied, “It’s from the TV. Xiao Bingbing is Xiao Longlong’s girlfriend, so Xiao Bingbing can’t play with Da Zhuang!”
What kind of cartoon was this! Yang Yi was speechless and decided to let Xixi watch less TV in the future.
Because he wanted to publish a book, Yang Yi also researched the market for children’s books and entertainment products in this world. He found that the content of children’s entertainment in this world was uneven, with both excellent works like Rem and rough-looking works like Little Dragon Man.
More importantly, even for Rem, its content tends to be more adult-oriented!
The whole market was like this, with adult cartoonists and writers creating content from an adult perspective. Even if they simulated a child’s tone, the story content was more suitable for children over ten years old.
“It seems that I need to write Journey to the West and other storybooks as soon as possible,” Yang Yi thought to himself.
While Yang Yi was worrying about the country, the people, and the next generation, Ding Xiang was reminded by Xixi and remembered something. She smiled and asked Guo Ziyi, “Weren’t you trying to pursue that graduate student senior? How did it go?”
Guo Ziyi replied proudly, “It was too easy. I’m the cultural and entertainment committee member of our class. After discussing with my classmates in the class, they all agreed to nominate me. At the freshman welcome party, I will perform a solo!”
“So, what are you going to sing?” Ding Xiang asked curiously.
“South Town.” Guo Ziyi felt that he was still proficient in this song.
Yang Yi furrowed his brow and said, “That song doesn’t match the mood of pursuing a girl.”
Now that Xixi was full, she asked her father to clean her mouth and then skipped around the living room with three equally full kittens. Yang Yi didn’t stop Ding Xiang from discussing this topic with Guo Ziyi. He even participated, intending to provide advice for Guo Ziyi.
Guo Ziyi scratched his head and said in confusion, “Isn’t ‘South Town’ good enough? How about I sing your song, ‘Once You’, Big Brother Yang?”
“Big Brother Yang’s song? Big brother Yang writes songs too?” Ding Xiang was a bit surprised.
“Hehe, you don’t know about it yet, do you? Last time, that Chen Yijie…” Guo Ziyi proudly talked about how Yang Yi selling a song to Chen Yijie, and said with a smile, “But don’t spread it around, Big brother Yang is afraid of being harassed by paparazzi if he becomes famous, so he’s been keeping his identity hidden!”
Ding Xiang didn’t react much. She didn’t have the chance or interest to keep up with celebrity gossip. Chen Yijie was such a big star, but she had no concept of who he was.
Nevertheless, she nodded earnestly and promised Yang Yi, “Big brother Yang, don’t worry, I won’t say anything.”
Yang Yi smiled and waved his hand, he didn’t care too much.
“But you haven’t publicly released ‘Once You,’ right, Big Brother Yang? Would it be inappropriate for me to sing it publicly?” Guo Ziyi pondered.
“It’s no problem, you can sing it as you please.” Yang Yi rubbed his chin and contemplated, “I just think the mood of “Once You” and “South Town” is not very suitable, so how about I give you a different song?”
“What song?” Guo Ziyi was pleasantly surprised.
“College Days!'” Yang Yi said lightly.
…
At night, Yang Yi really started writing down the manuscript for “Journey to the West” as he had planned earlier.
However, Yang Yi has been hesitant about whether to copy the original text word-for-word or to adapt it and write it in plain and easy-to-understand vernacular language.
Needless to say, the original text definitely has a better feel than the vernacular version of ‘Journey to the West’, after all, this was a story set in ancient times. But Yang Yi felt that he wasn’t skilled in classical Chinese, and even if he could recite it, it would be hard for him to explain it clearly.
In the end, Yang Yi thought about his original intention for writing this story. It wasn’t for scholars to study, nor for adults to cultivate their sentiment. He was going to write it to add joy to the childhood of young children!
Therefore, he decided to write it in vernacular language. Even if it was rough, as long as the children could understand it and ordinary adults could recite it, and children could enjoy the story, it was enough!
Before doing so, Yang Yi opened his email and prepared to send the manuscript he had accumulated during this time period to Qiang Zi, so he wouldn’t have to be constantly reminded to submit it.
However, Yang Yi noticed that there were several emails from Ju Jie in his inbox, including a remittance slip for three million!
“Interesting!” Yang Yi’s mouth slightly curved up.
TN: If you like my translations support me in ko-fi: Here.
<Previous | Table of Content | Next>
