Chapter 14: I Only Understand Gold

Source: https://www.gongzicp.com/novel-1711067.html

This translation was originally posted on https://love4baihe.blogspot.com please read it there. and check out other stories too.

The snow in Fujing continued until the end of the year.

She said she wouldn't go home for the New Year, but Que Ma* kept making harassing phone calls. After Ma Gu'er blocked her number, Ma Yan'er called again. When she answered the phone, it was still Que Ma’s voice.

*Mother Que/Mother Sparrow 

“What’s the point of coming back if you’re not dead? You’ve got some guts blocking your mother’s calls, huh. Buy a ticket and fly back immediately. Don’t force me to go to Fujing to find you. If I run into that old lover of yours again, don’t blame me if I speak badly.”  

Slam—  

After cursing her out, the person on the other end hung up first, afraid Ma Gu’er might retaliate. 

Que Ma’s real name is Ma Que'er*, Ma Gu'er’s biological mother. Ma Yan'er** was Ma Gu'er’s biological aunt.

*Sparrow or Mahjong 

**Swallow bird

Auntie Yan said that Ma Que’er didn’t want her daughter to end up like her and her own mother, both being sparrows*, so she gave her the name Gu’er instead. 

*can’t find sources that state the Chinese metaphorical meaning of ‘sparrow’ but based on context and idioms like ‘How can a sparrow know the ambitions of a swan?’ or ‘Even a sparrow can become a phoenix,’ it seems to mean lowly or impoverished.

Gu’er, Gu’er,  the meaning was quite good, for example it carries the sense of ‘a bountiful harvest of the five grains,’ and also of ‘never lacking food.’ 

With the character ‘Gu*’ in the name, one would never worry about food or drink for a lifetime. 

*grain

Ma Gu’er originally believed this without doubt. But later, as her level of education improved, she came to realize that ‘Ma Gu’er’ was just another name for ‘sparrow.’

Her mother’s education level was so-so. She didn’t know if it was on purpose, or really like what Auntie Yan said, hoping she would be well…

However, none of these matters are important. This name has been with her for twenty-eight years, and whether it's Gu'er or Ma Que, it makes no difference to her.

She didn't care what the meaning of her name was, after all, her relationship with her biological mother... could be described as one of mutual loathing.

After leaving the bathroom, Ma Gu'er first threw her phone onto the bed, then bent her legs and climbed onto it.

Yi Xianqi was lying by the head of the bed admiring the newly delivered gold ornament, two golden little people hugging each other, each with one leg raised, looking quite cute.

Previously, all the gold ornaments were designed by Yi Anran's designers, whose professionalism goes without saying; every piece they produced was a masterpiece.

The designer this time was someone Ma Gu'er found on short notice. He was quite an amateur. At first, he recommended two little figures with their butts sticking out and kissing, which was incredibly tacky. Seeming to know his skill was poor, he kindly made many versions, and tortured her with kiss after kiss for an entire morning, urging her to pick one among many design drafts.

"My mom is sick, I have to go back home for a few days."

Ma Gu'er’s hand slid from Yi Xianqi’s butt to her waist, then naturally touched her chest. She carefully felt it for a while and said with meaning, “Your heartbeat is very fast.”

She actually did not hear any heartbeat. She could only feel the softness in her palm.

Yi Xianqi ignored Ma Gu'er's hand and turned around, "Didn't you say you weren't going back?"

"Birth, aging, sickness, and death are inevitable," Ma Gu'er casually lied, "I'll be back in three days at most."

Yi Xianqi completely turned over and rolled into her arms. "If you don't come back in three days, I'll come looking for you."

Not going back was fine too. It was just that Ma Gu'er felt they really needed to separate for a few days. Yi Xianqi was a little too clingy.

Usually, wherever she went, Yi Xianqi wanted to follow. Even when making a phone call, she followed. After hanging up and turning around, this person would mysteriously appear behind her. No one knew how long she had listened. If asked, the answer was always, "I just arrived, I didn't hear anything."

Luckily, it was always just nonsense talk with Zhou Yun about all sorts of things, but it was still pretty creepy.

Still, not fighting with the gold master was a canary’s professional quality.

So far, they got along quite peacefully. Probably because the house was too small. This airtight feeling made Ma Gu'er uncomfortable. Going back this time was a good chance to have peace for a few days.

….

Peace was not really possible.

She thought if she obediently came back, Que Ma would go less crazy. No. Early in the morning after arriving home, before she even got warm on the heated brick bed, Que Ma already gathered friends to play cards, as if she did not see her return at all, casually pushing her aside.

The sound of cards and mahjong clattered loudly. Four women, two of them smoking. The moment they entered, the room was filled with smoke, suffocating, worse than the small room in Fujing.

Little Ma Xian'er* was crouching by the door feeding kittens.

*Fairy 

Xian'er is the precious daughter her aunt finally had after two miscarriages. The damage from the previous miscarriages was too much, and doctors didn't suggest another child. Sadly, bad things always come one after another. The man’s family preferred boys over girls. Seeing her aunt struggle for years only to give birth to a daughter, they kicked her out before she even finished postpartum recovery.

Source: https://www.gongzicp.com/novel-1711067.html

This translation was originally posted on https://love4baihe.blogspot.com please read it there. and check out other stories too.

The court did not approve the divorce.

The rule said a woman can’t divorce before postpartum recovery. Very considerate handling. It even gave Little Xian'er one chance to meet her biological father, their only meeting, when her father brought his new wife to finish the divorce papers.

"Xian'er, how old are you?"

Ma Gu'er sat in the yard chair and crossed her legs. Outside, a group of chubby children ran past playing snowball fights. Then she casually asked, “Why not go play with them?”

“Fifteen.” Xian'er stood up and put her gloves back on. “Sister, I don't play with elementary school kids.”

Ma Gu'er turned to look.

You can't tell when she's squatting, but standing up, she was frighteningly tall. Kids in puberty grew like spring bamboo shoots. So tall, skinny, just like those long balloons flying wildly outside supermarkets.

She thought for a moment, then calculated her age, "When did you start high school? I didn't know that."

“Next year.” Xian'er replied blankly. She was already used to the crazy words from family.

“One year without seeing you, and next year you’ll already be in high school.”

Ma Gu'er didn't care that she had misremembered. She beckoned Xian'er over, then rummaged in her pocket and pulled out a lipstick. She twisted it up and checked it. Hard to tell if it had been used.

“This is for you. In high school you can date. Study well, and find someone richer.”

“Thank you, Sister.” Xian'er did not act polite. She put it in her pocket, looked back at the smoky living room, then the kitchen full of smoke on the side, and turned back. “Sister, are you leaving tomorrow?”

“The day after tomorrow.” Ma Gu'er breathed white air.

“I don’t want to study anymore.” Xian'er suddenly lowered her voice. “Sister, can you take me away?”

Ma Gu'er sucked in a breath and even pulled back the white air she breathed out. Pretending to act experienced, she advised earnestly, “Why don’t you want to study? If you don’t study, what will you do when you grow up? You can't even find work.”

“Auntie makes money by gambling, my mom makes money by serving her, you make money by dating rich women, and so can I. I can gamble, I can serve people, and I can date rich women.”

Ma Gu'er: “…”

“I only met a rich woman after university.” Ma Gu'er patched it up.

Ma Xian'er stared at her. “You are lying. Auntie said your old lover works in movies. Before that you already filmed three movies. I looked at the directors. One man, one gay, one woman. You have no background. You could only meet her by filming movies.”

Pretty smart.

Ma Gu'er pretended to pull out a cigarette, lit it, blew smoke, and lightly raised her brow. “You want to film movies?”

"I want to be a model, I want to go abroad." Ma Xian'er lowered her eyes, her tone pleading, "I know you have money, lend me some, I'll pay you back later."

Ma Gu'er threw down her cigarette, stomped it out, and, too lazy to play with the child anymore, said, "Let your mother come and talk to me."

"Mom won't let me leave. She says I'm her life, and she'll go wherever I go... You want my mom to take care of your mom, so you don't want my mom to go with me either...”

Xian'er rattled off a tongue twister, grabbed Ma Gu'er who was getting up to go into the house, and pleaded with her in a low voice: "I don't want my mom to come with me, I can go by myself... Sister, I don't want to study here, I want to go abroad, I want to leave."

“Nowhere is better than here. If you don’t want to study here, you can study somewhere else. You can go wherever you want, I can’t control you. Go talk to your mother.”

Ma Gu'er finds kids annoying. They treat every little thing like the end of the world, always saying this won't work or that won't work, that they want to go abroad, that they want to commit suicide or that they want to be depressed. Everyone's life is messy. If anyone's going to leave or die, it should be these crazy old women with rotten bones first.

Ma Gu'er dragged a chair in and slammed it onto the table without warning, knocking the cards off the table. She stepped on the card and said coldly, "Either get out, or spend the New Year in the police station."

"Hey—"

Que Ma jumped up onto the heated brick bed, as if she had finally seen her. "What's wrong with you? It's the New Year, can’t you let me feel good for one day? You came back with no good face. Did you even call me ‘Mom’ once?”

“Gu'er...”

The other three women were all neighbors and longtime mahjong partners of the "Que Ma," having spent many nights playing mahjong with her.

“Gu'er, your mom did not play all year. We just thought during New Year, let’s have some fun. Don’t be angry. You finally came back. Join us...”

Ma Gu'er snorted and rolled up her sleeves. “Sure. I happen to want to play a fighting game. Want to play? I finally came back. Aunties should have fun with me too, right?”

“You silly child...” The woman clicked her tongue, then quickly smiled and checked her phone. “Well, my eldest daughter texted me. I’ll go back first, leaving, leaving...”

“I heard your eldest daughter married into a family and got a good son-in-law. I should go see. I’ll visit your house...”

“Take the cards. Let's play at home.”

The last woman hastily put away her cards and gave Que Ma a wink before leaving. Que Ma looked up slightly in response.

When she turned back to Ma Gu'er, her face was cold beyond cold. A face reflected the heart. Que Ma’s expression was no different from the big and small joker cards.

She sat cross-legged and gave a light, dismissive sneer: "Is this how you give your mother face?"

“What face do you still need? You’ve been to the police station three times a year. In the whole township… no one knows the police station better than you.”

Ma Gu'er patted the chair and glanced at Auntie Yan and Xian'er bringing dishes from the kitchen, threatening, “If you think life is too comfortable, I can take Auntie Yan and Xian'er away.”

Slam—

"You can take them away, but you’re not willing to take me to Fujing? You’ve been living the good life, so you just abandon me here, thinking I’m not presentable enough? I didn’t even mind that you’re a disgusting lesbian, yet you still look down on me. We’re both the same kind of trash. What kind of good thing could possibly come out of my belly...”

Whenever this matter was brought up, Que Ma would slam the table in anger. Ma Gu’er pressed down on her temple and said, “You already know everything clearly in your heart, so what exactly are you still expecting from me…? You’re pressuring me to come back like you’re trying to take my life. Why don’t you learn from other people’s mothers…”

Auntie Yan put down the big pot of food, took little Xian’er’s bowl and chopsticks and set them properly, then gently tried to mediate in a soft voice: “Stop arguing, let’s eat first.”

“You all are one family. I’m the only outsider here.”

Que Ma picked up a couple bites of vegetables. She stayed quiet for a while, then suddenly spoke again: “Later, go over to Sister Fei’s place and settle the bill.”

Her tone had softened a little, and she sounded almost like a normal person.

Ma Gu'er ate her food expressionlessly, without responding or uttering a sound.

Auntie Yan looked around and said softly, “One hundred five thousand six hundred.”

Xian'er took the bowl and walked to the door, unwilling to listen to their talk.

After finishing her meal, Ma Gu'er put down her chopsticks and sneered, "You haven't earned a single penny in a year, you've lost it all. What are you still doing playing cards?"

“If I do not play cards, should I go buy number betting, odd and even?”

Que Ma flew into a rage out of embarrassment. “I’ve already done well enough! You come back with no good attitude, get angry at me, and make me lose face. I’m going to be laughed at by them for a whole year, don’t you know that?”

“Now you won’t even let me play cards… When you begged me to go play before, why didn’t you say anything? I’ve already done this much, what more do you want from me?”

This time, Ma Gu’er didn’t say anything else. She silently rolled up her scarf, walked out the door, and stepped into the heavy snow. She passed through the familiar yet unfamiliar alleys and slipped into a low, small courtyard gate.

During the New Year period, business here was booming, every seat was full. As soon as they saw Ma Gu’er enter, they greeted her like an old acquaintance.

“Xiao Maque*, came to pay off your mom’s debt again? Your luck this year should be pretty good, right? You probably didn’t lose too much… I heard that at the beginning of last year she even went up the mountain to worship Buddha. Her devotion was quite sincere, but her gambling addiction is huge. She lost the entire house and still wouldn’t stop… Are you going to worship at the start of this year? Bring me along… hahahaha…”

*little sparrow 

“That’s because she has a capable daughter. I heard you’re dealing in collectibles outside… Gu’er, a white porcelain bowl was unearthed at my house a few months ago. Do you have time to come take a look for me?”

Ma Gu’er tugged at the corner of her mouth, transferred the money to Sister Fei, the owner of the mahjong parlor, then turned to look at the person speaking.

“I don’t understand white porcelain. I only understand gold. When your family digs up some gold one day, then come ask me.”