Chapter 207

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Translation: "Important people have the lifestyle of important people, ordinary citizens have the way of ordinary citizens." Could be "Big shots have the lifestyle of big shots, small-town folk have their own way of living." Keep meaning. We'll produce: "Important people have the lifestyle of important people, ordinary citizens have the way of ordinary citizens."

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Zheng Tan, Jiao Family, big courtyard, be anxious and worried, get involved in those tumultuous major affairs, can be temperamental and play around, eat when you should eat, drink when you should drink, Indeed, it's much more natural here at the Jiao Family's.

Let's craft: "Zheng Tan felt that, as this cat, he still preferred the life in the big courtyard—relaxed, content, without having to worry anxiously about when breaking a vase would cause trouble, without getting mixed up in those tumultuous major affairs. He could be temperamental and play around, eat when he should eat, drink when he should drink; indeed, it was much more natural here at the Jiao Family's."

Make sure it's one line.

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Translation: "But Zheng Tan's good mood was somewhat spoiled after dinner."

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Translation: "«Divine beast?! »" Use quotes? Keep Chinese quotes? Usually we keep as English quotes: "«Divine beast?! »" but we can just use double quotes: ""Divine beast?!"". We'll output: ""Divine beast?!""

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Jiao Ma paused in her motion of picking up a green pepper, then immediately asked Xiao Youzi, «How did you think of letting Hei Tan go over? »

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«Yue Lisha said this would attract more attention, she called it…» Xiao Youzi thought about that word, «Well, she called it a gimmick. »

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Jiao Ma: «…» Even a little kid knows what a gimmick is!

Long line. Need to translate fully. We'll need to keep all info. Let's parse.

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Xiao Youzi, Jiao Ma, and Yue Lisha discussed Children's Day, the performance, and aiming for the reward.

Let's craft: "Xiao Youzi was stuffing rice into her mouth; she still had some things she hadn't said, which would not be good to let Jiao Ma hear. As the vice class monitor of Class 3, Grade 4 and the initiator of this performance, Yue Lisha, besides coming up with a «gimmick», had also said that for the Children's Day performance, one goal was to pursue the reward—rumor had it the top three would receive generous prizes, and outstanding performers would also receive additional certificates from the school, all of which are recorded in the files, useful for being rated as a three-good student and outstanding cadre at the end of term, and later, when applying for some cadre positions in middle school, it would also be advantageous."

As the vice class monitor of Class 3, Grade 4 and the initiator of this performance, Yue Lisha said that besides coming up with a «gimmick», for the Children's Day performance one aim was to pursue the reward; rumor had it the top three would receive generous prizes and outstanding performers would also receive additional certificates from the school, all of which are recorded in the files, useful for being rated as a three-good student and outstanding cadre at the end of term, and later, when applying for some cadre positions in middle school, it would also be advantageous.

Xiao Youzi was stuffing rice into her mouth.

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The second goal of this performance is to show filial piety to parents and move them; that way, asking for pocket money later will be easier, and maybe they'll even take them to places like Youle Chang to play during vacation.

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«What's a gimmick? » Jiao Yuan fully demonstrated his lack of vocabulary in language.

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The three members of the Jiao Family were tangled over this «gimmick», while Zheng Tan in his heart began communing with the Alpaca god.

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Damn it. Why make me play a divine beast of all things?!

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For the students of Chu Hua Da Xue Affiliated Elementary School, Children's Day meant they could watch an arts performance; before, basically each class just played on its own, namely on the afternoon of the day before the Children's Day holiday, they would play in their own classrooms, sing to show off talents, etc., and the school would hand out little biscuits and such, letting the kids enjoy themselves.

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Later, some parent from the Education Bureau proposed borrowing Chu Hua Da Xue's grand hall to hold an arts performance; anyway, the grand hall had nothing for college students going on that Children's Day. If it was free, they could borrow the resources and, incidentally, also enhance the children's teamwork and aesthetic sense.

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Thus: "Thus came the arrangement to go to Chu Hua Da Xue's grand hall on Children's Day to put on an arts performance."

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When Yue Lisha suggested putting on a performance, the people of Class 3, Grade 4 were quite supportive. Because classes with a performance could go to the grand hall to watch the show. After all, the grand hall had limited seats. Many parents would also go there. If seats weren't enough, classes without a performance would just watch in their own classroom, anyway each class is equipped with a TV set. The school broadcast station would do a live stream.

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According to Xiao Youzi's account, their Class 3, Grade 4 was preparing to go all out for this performance; those good at handicrafts started making some simple props, and those who could play instruments began intensive practice. The story they were to perform was one written by Yue Lisha herself: a filial son, in order to cure his mother who lay gravely ill in bed, braved mountains and rivers, endured hardships, crossed numerous obstacles, defeated various monsters, and finally obtained a snow lotus flower bestowed by the mountain god's divine beast on the snow mountain, then returned to heal his mother.

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Zheng Tan found it familiar, feeling that many TV dramas, movies, and even an advertisement he had once filmed used this cliché; however, for children's own performances, the audience isn't there for the plot but to see their own kids perform—plot and such are secondary, the point is just to have fun.

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We need Zheng Tan. So: "Before deciding to let Zheng Tan play the divine beast, Class 3, Grade 4 had already rehearsed many times; the props were mostly ready, and they had even done a trial run. After all, too many classes had signed up for performances, and the grand hall's performance time was limited, so they needed to weed out a batch. The trial run had no rankings; they only notified the final classes that could perform in the grand hall."

From that preview, it was clear that there were too many excellent performances and the competition was too fierce, just as Xiao Youzi said, we needed something different, so Zheng Tan was selected.

We need Xiao Youzi, Zheng Tan. So: "From that trial run one could see that there were too many outstanding performances, the competition was fierce—just as Xiao Youzi said, they needed something distinctive, and thus Zheng Tan made the list."

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Many at the affiliated elementary school, especially those in Xiao Youzi's class, knew that her family's black cat came every day after school to pick people up and was very obedient. Thus Yue Lisha turned her attention to Zheng Tan.

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We need Xiao Youzi, Zheng Tan, Yue Lisha, Xie Xin. So: "Xiao Youzi actually didn't agree to let Zheng Tan go over, but many classmates came to persuade her, and Yue Lisha and Xie Xin had brought it up to her face many times, so she decided to ask Zheng Tan what he thought; if Zheng Tan wasn't willing, she would go reject it tomorrow."

Although Zheng Tan wasn't thrilled about playing the divine beast role, he didn't want to cause trouble for Xiao Youzi, especially since Yue Lisha and Xie Xin had helped her a lot in class, so helping out this time could be his way of thanking them. Besides, this child doesn't like to talk and tends to be aloof; if this works out, it could also help Xiao Youzi fit in better in class.

We need Zheng Tan, Xiao Youzi, Yue Lisha, Xie Xin. So: "Although playing the divine beast made Zheng Tan not too happy, he didn't want to make Xiao Youzi difficult; in class, Yue Lisha and Xie Xin had helped Xiao Youzi a lot, so Zheng Tan helping out this time could be seen as thanks. Moreover, this child doesn't like to talk, is prone to alienation from others; if this goes smoothly, it could also let Xiao Youzi get along better in class."

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The next day, around ten in the morning, Zheng Tan didn't go elsewhere to stroll; he went straight to the affiliated elementary school.

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We need Xiao Youzi, Yue Lisha. So: "Xiao Youzi and company's last morning class was PE, but because of the Children's Day performance, Yue Lisha applied to their PE teacher to use this period for performance preparations; the PE teacher also knew about the performance, didn't think much, and agreed."

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We need Xiao Youzi, Zheng Tan. So: "The place where Xiao Youzi and company rehearsed was just a corner of the playground; the affiliated elementary school isn't big, and Zheng Tan is familiar with it. Without going through the main gate, staying outside near the playground and then hopping over the fence, he could see them."

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We need Zheng Tan, Yue Lisha. So: "Rehearsal was about to begin; Zheng Tan saw them lining up in formation, with Yue Lisha directing."

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About ten children held a sheet of paper in front of their chests, the paper bearing the names of the roles they were to play, and Xiao Youzi was one of them. Zheng Tan looked and saw that the paper Xiao Youzi held read «Redbud».

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So: "The other children standing there held papers with plant names written on them; these kids were background characters who, once on stage, just stood there without needing to speak."

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We need Xiao Youzi, Zheng Tan. So: "That makes sense—Xiao Youzi usually gives off a too stern, aloof impression and isn't good with words; for a performance, this type of role suits her well. Zheng Tan wondered what it would be like with props on. When the time came, they would have to don the props and go on stage; for now, rehearsals only used paper stand-ins, lest they damage the props, saving them for the grand hall performance."

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A student who saw Zheng Tan perched on the wall pointed at him and said to Xiao Youzi, «Gu Youzi, your family's divine beast has come! ».

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So: "«Huh? The divine beast has come? And quite punctual! » the others chimed in."

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We need Zheng Tan. So: "Zheng Tan: «…» You're the divine beasts, your whole family are divine beasts!"

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Annoyed, he tugged at his ears, didn't jump down from the wall, and just stood there watching those little brats rehearse their play.

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So: "Each performance lasts about twenty minutes, so if the content is too much, it needs to be compressed."

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The main role was played by the class's sports committee member; this kid's looks weren't the best in the class, and his acting was average, but his advantage was being able to do somersaults. Moreover, Zheng Tan watching their performance, this kid always does a somersault before each «move»; he wondered whether this also counted as the «gimmick» Yue Lisha mentioned.

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This seems a fragment attached to previous line. Probably continues: "range, concocted to catch people's eyes." We'll translate as: "Range, devised to catch people's eyes."

But we need to keep it as a separate line. So line 37: "Range, devised to catch people's eyes."

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We need Zheng Tan. So: "There were also a few playing the «villain» monsters, and they were really into it—more energetic than the main character. Zheng Tan had thought these kids would be reluctant to take on «villain» roles, but now it seemed they were enjoying themselves."

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We need Zheng Tan, Xiao Youzi, Yue Lisha. So: "As the performance was nearing its end, Zheng Tan, this «divine beast», was about to go on stage; Yue Lisha somehow produced a stalk of wild grass and handed it to Zheng Tan. Xiao Youzi had told Zheng Tan the night before what to do, so he knew how to proceed."

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We need Zheng Tan. So: "So he jumped down from the wall, clamped that pitiful stalk of wild grass between his claws, and waited for the main character to come and take it."

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The final scene was the main character giving the «spiritual medicine» to his bedridden mother to eat; Zheng Tan had earlier wondered who would play the mother, whether the teacher would cameo, but now he watched that child holding the «spiritual medicine» walk up to Yue Lisha and display an excited expression: «Your illness can be cured! ».

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We need Zheng Tan. So: "Zheng Tan: «…»"

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We need Yue Lisha, Xie Xin, Xiao Youzi, Zheng Tan. So: "When class ended, Yue Lisha, Xie Xin, and Xiao Youzi walked slowly toward the school gate together, discussing what else needed to be prepared, and planning to meet up later that evening if they had free time to «work overtime». Zheng Tan first ran to the wall by the school gate and squatted there, as he didn't want to squeeze in with those students."

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While wondering why Yue Lisha, that little girl, had so many trivial things to attend to and walked as slowly as a turtle crawling, Zheng Tan suddenly caught sight of a person standing not far away; his first impression was that this person harbored ill intent, not a good person.

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So: "A thief?"

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We need Zheng Tan. So: "No, it wasn't; Zheng Tan observed that the person's gaze basically stayed on the children, and he felt that when this person looked at the children, it was different from how others looked; perhaps the children couldn't sense it, and the parents hadn't noticed either, couldn't tell, but Zheng Tan just had a gut feeling that this person harbored ill intent."

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We need Zheng Tan. So: "When that person inadvertently noticed Zheng Tan squatting on the wall, Zheng Tan bared his sharp teeth at him."

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We need Xiao Youzi, Zheng Tan. So: "After Xiao Youzi came out, when Zheng Tan looked over again, that person was no longer in the original spot; he guessed the person had already left."

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We need Zheng Tan, Xiao Youzi. So: "In the afternoon, Zheng Tan as usual escorted Xiao Youzi to the affiliated elementary school; as they neared the school, Zheng Tan saw a person standing at the intersection—the same individual he had seen that morning after school."

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We need Zheng Tan, Xiao Youzi. So: "Noticing Zheng Tan's oddness, Xiao Youzi followed his gaze and looked over; just then that person also looked over, saw Xiao Youzi looking at him, and broke into a smile."

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We need Xiao Youzi. So: "Xiao Youzi furrowed her brows; although she wasn't very good at reading people, this person gave her a bad feeling, so she quickened her pace and headed toward the affiliated elementary school."

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Zheng Tan followed behind Xiao Youzi, turned his head to look at the person standing at the intersection, narrowed his eyes, and thought, «If this guy walks over and says to Xiao Youzi, "Little sis, uncle will take you to see the goldfish," Zheng Tan will immediately beat him up so badly even his own mother wouldn't recognize him, then find a chance to sink him in the lake to feed the fish! ».

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We need Zheng Tan. So: "Just as Zheng Tan was pondering whether to kick that guy with his left or right leg first, whether to strike his face or his vitals first, the person averted his gaze."

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We need Zheng Tan. So: "That person didn't keep staring at Xiao Youzi; instead he turned his gaze to other children coming to school, especially those without an adult escort. Zheng Tan didn't feel that gaze carried much lewd meaning, but it still made him extremely uncomfortable."

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We need Zheng Tan, Jiao Ma. So: "Zheng Tan wouldn't let his guard down just because that person wasn't paying attention to Xiao Youzi; Jiao Ma had said no stirring up trouble, and Zheng Tan is still under Jiao Ma's observation period—if he caused trouble again he might continue to be confined—but Zheng Tan thought it was still wise to prepare for the worst; however, with Xiao Youzi nearby he couldn't just lash out, and when he found the chance he would definitely beat that guy first and then talk! (To be continued…)"

ps: (3.28)