No. 13: Goodbye
The crowd broke into an uproar!
A man dressed in yellow robes sitting in the VIP seats slammed a table as he stood up. Though he said nothing to the white-robed man sitting at the same table, his penetrating eyes bore into mine like a snake hunting down its usual prey of frogs. And not only was I just any frog, but a large bullfrog!
It looked like my announcement had stirred everyone up. The ones over there, don"t climb onstage! And you! Put down that antique vase, I spent a few hundred taels on that! (Author: This is still just called "stirring people up?")
"Everyone calm down. Don"t panic," I felt like I was trying to evacuate the scene of a fire as I raised my voice. "Everyone, everyone, could you wait until Minmin finishes speaking? Please give me a little time." Gradually, the noise below died down.
"Minmin wants to borrow this stage to do one last thing. Today is the birthday of one of Minmin"s friends. This friend has enjoyed both ease and comfort, hardships and pain. People often say that if we can"t keep what we have, we might be better off never experiencing the joy of owning such happiness in the first place."
By now, I had lost track of what I was saying. I only heard the type of emotional, stirring speech that a righteous female character might say spilling out of my lips.
"My friends, this person isn"t a child anymore, but has already experienced the pain of losing an entire family as they fell into decline and decay. This type of misery and helplessness might be impossible for others to understand…"
I lifted my eyes to look for the subject of my speech, catching his fuzzy features in the darkened crowd. I smiled slightly as I shifted the topic. "But I neither sympathize with nor pity that person. Because I believe in that person. Even if that person"s weak and down on their luck now, there will come a day when they"ll go all out. Then, the bitterness will end and sweetness begin. They"ll definitely become a hero that commands the wind and the clouds, shaking Heaven and Earth with their power!"
Yes, without any basis, I had that exact premonition. Even if you asked me why I believed it, I could only turn my neck and stare at you as I said, "In any case, that"s what I believe! So what?"
I wasn"t clear on the rest. I just know the one thing he needed was this kind of faith and support. He"d been cast into the deepest abyss of despair. I had no rope to throw him to help him climb out, but I could give him the courage to start climbing by himself.
"I"m singing this song for you," I said to the figure in the corner who had no reaction. Stomping my foot, I opened up my throat and hollered, "You better listen carefully!"
Incredibly, that figure actually shook in response to my shout! Then he turned to stare at me with an expression that wasn"t sure whether he wanted to laugh or cry. Satisfied, I followed along with the soft, flowing melody to sing.
"Life is sweet and bitter, joys and sorrows
Each with its part for you
It"s hard to avoiding stumbling and waiting
Be brave and lift your head.
Who wants to always seek shelter in the harbor
When they can be free with the surging waves?
I hope that the light within your heart
Can let you see clearly through the fog.
Sunshine always follows a storm
Above dark clouds are clear skies
Treasure every moving moment
And each hope in the palm of your hand.
Sunshine always follows a storm
Please believe that there are rainbows
Accepting all the wind and rain
I will always be somewhere closeby…"
I quietly turned as I sang softly. There were no beautiful dance moves or graceful music, only my clear, gentle voice echoing beneath the stars and in the heart of a certain person. I don"t know why–perhaps I had touched on my true feelings–but I never thought this song had sounded so pleasant! Nor did I notice how well the lyrics were written, so suitable, so moving!
Everyone was listening quietly. What were they thinking of? All of their lives had experienced different setbacks. In the end, smooth sailing was only a beautiful, but wishful, thought. Perhaps people needed to persist in their beliefs and have faith to work past the storms in their life.
"Sunshine always follows a storm
Above dark clouds are clear skies
Treasure every moving moment
And each hope in the palm of your hand.
Sunshine always follows a storm
Please believe that there are rainbows
Accepting all the wind and rain
I will always be somewhere closeby…
Accepting all the wind and rain
I will always be somewhere closeby…"
Qingqing and Xiao Tao released 100 rainbow sky lanterns into the air. Their shimmering lights surrounded us as they floated slowly upwards above the gazes of countless eyes. What kinds of hidden hopes and feelings were they lifting up into the night skies?
When daylight came, would there be rainbows?
(end of teaser)
Translator"s End Notes (with spoilers!): So yes, things end happily enough here, but everything goes to h.e.l.l not long after. Not only is Minmin captured by a powerful male (I forgot whether it was Duke Luo or someone else), but kept trapped by his side when he threatens her by slicing off the finger of Xiao Tao, her friend + best seamstress, effectively crippling her sewing skills. The rest of the novel turns into a tug of war between Minmin and the various men interested in her before finally struggling its way to a happy ending. It"s as dog-blood as you expect, which is why I lost interest.
However, hope the bits you read so far were entertaining! Some of Minmin"s logic were perfect echoes of my thoughts towards “transmigration preparation,” haha!