Love like the Galaxy - V1C5
Author and Editor's Notes
1- Transmigration, Sickness and Recovery
2- Survival
3- Sick again, Gossips and Jealousy
4- Family Reunion
5- Awkward Meeting
6- Drama Spirit
7- Crocodile tears
8- Mother and Son
9- Family Banquet
10- Good News!
11- Mother and Daughter
12- Enough is Enough
13- Madam Xiao's unfairness
14- Siblings' reunion and a moment of reflection
15- Third Uncle and Madam Sang
Chapter 5
Awkward Meeting
Most human fears arise from ignorance. Yu Cailing's earlier anxiety and sadness mainly stemmed from concerns about an unpredictable future. However, after days of listening in on conversations, her mind calmed considerably. Her parents were intelligent and capable, her family was well-off, and she had several brothers, including her twin brother, who was her dragon-phoenix. With such strong backing, she believed she wouldn't fall into extreme misery, no matter what happened.
Once her heart settled, she enjoyed a deep, restful sleep that night. Additionally, the medicinal mixture provided by her new parents seemed particularly effective — she slept soundly until dawn and, upon waking, felt her chest and lungs clearer, with much less weakness in her limbs.
With a cheerful turn of her head, she saw Fu Zhu already kneeling by the bed, organizing bowls and cups. Yu Cailing was surprised and delighted, quickly asking for more details. That was when she learned that, under Madam Xiao’s instructions, Fu Zhu had been appointed as her Mother Fu and her new name was now 'Nanny Zhu'. The two maids behind Nanny Zhu also seemed to have been assigned by Madam Xiao to assist her.
Just as Yu Cailing was about to share her excitement and ask about A Mei and A Liang, she sensed something was wrong. She quickly asked, “Father and Mother just came back. Are they leaving again? What about my former Mother Fu and the servants?”
Yu Cailing thought about the Stanislavski method[1] taught by the president of the Salted Fish Society drama, where she learned the value of self-mastery[2]. In this situation, what good child wouldn’t check on her parents before asking about her friends?
Nanny Zhu’s expression grew serious. “Young Lady, you’re now old enough to understand. Since the Headmaster and First Mistress have returned, they will take charge of everything. The people your Second Aunt, assigned to you will no longer be kept in this manor.”
The words had a deep effect. Yu Cailing, concealing her true emotions, simulated being puzzled, saying, “If Mother knew Second Aunt was treating me poorly, why didn’t she send someone to help sooner? I’ve suffered so much.” It was understandable for her to portray herself as a victim.
Nanny Zhu’s expression grew serious. “Young Lady, you’re now old enough to understand. Since the Headmaster and First Mistress have returned, they will take charge of everything. The people your Second Aunt, assigned to you will no longer be kept in this manor.”
The words had a deep effect. Yu Cailing, concealing her true emotions, simulated being puzzled, saying, “If Mother knew Second Aunt was treating me poorly, why didn’t she send someone to help sooner? I’ve suffered so much.” It was understandable for her to portray herself as a victim.
Nanny Zhu smiled faintly. “In earlier years, the outside world was tumultuous; letters couldn’t even be delivered properly. And with minor household matters, even if the First Mistress knew very little about them, she couldn’t respond in time. Your mother trusted Old Madam and Second Aunt to be wise and all-knowing. Since Second Aunt oversaw the household, she trusted that everything was handled appropriately with the servants she left behind.” Indeed, Madam Xiao’s original remark was: 'Loyal servants are hard to find, and this is the time to use them.'
Yu Cailing, known for her sharp tongue and sarcasm in her previous life, was tempted to make a few scathing remarks about this 'wise and all-knowing' comment. However, seeing the weariness on Nanny Zhu’s face, she felt a twinge of reluctance. She sighed deeply instead.
Since arriving in this place, no one had been closer to her than this quiet, loyal, and caring woman. Nanny Zhu was so careful that she didn’t summon many servants for help, managing everything herself. When Yu Cailing couldn’t eat, Nanny Zhu slowly fed her medicinal liquid. To reduce her fever, she repeatedly boiled water to bathe and change her clothes, even in the icy weather. When the well froze, she melted snow, and her fingers, once well-kept, became frostbitten and chapped. When Yu Cailing complained about the greasy meat broth, Nanny Zhu personally gathered snow and soil from the mountains to find mushrooms and vegetables for the soup. She probably did not get proper rest over the past few days.
Yu Cailing, known for her sharp tongue and sarcasm in her previous life, was tempted to make a few scathing remarks about this 'wise and all-knowing' comment. However, seeing the weariness on Nanny Zhu’s face, she felt a twinge of reluctance. She sighed deeply instead.
Since arriving in this place, no one had been closer to her than this quiet, loyal, and caring woman. Nanny Zhu was so careful that she didn’t summon many servants for help, managing everything herself. When Yu Cailing couldn’t eat, Nanny Zhu slowly fed her medicinal liquid. To reduce her fever, she repeatedly boiled water to bathe and change her clothes, even in the icy weather. When the well froze, she melted snow, and her fingers, once well-kept, became frostbitten and chapped. When Yu Cailing complained about the greasy meat broth, Nanny Zhu personally gathered snow and soil from the mountains to find mushrooms and vegetables for the soup. She probably did not get proper rest over the past few days.
Yu Cailing was not a mean person and always believed in treating others as they treat you: be kind to the kind, ignore the ignore, and retaliate tenfold against those who hurt you. Nanny Zhu fell into the kind category, so it was best to avoid causing her trouble.
Yu Cailing lowered her head and said, "I’ll listen to Nanny Zhu." She was worried that if her former attendants came back, she might make a mistake and be discovered as not the genuine ‘Young Miss’. She wasn’t afraid of being accused of pretending; her real fear was that these superstitious people would force her to drink talisman water or burn her alive, believing she was possessed.
Nanny Zhu, satisfied, continued serving Yu Cailing, giving her a bowl of water to rinse her mouth. In truth, if her former Mother Fu and maids were here, they would surely be surprised at how agreeable their Young Miss had become. However, having cared for Yu Cailing only after she transmigrated into this body, Nanny Zhu had always felt that she was a kind-hearted girl by nature, so she found nothing unusual about it.
On the wine-red lacquered wood tray sat three small bowls of the same color, their sides decorated with strange little beasts in dark black. The slightly larger bowl in the center contained a steaming, fragrant rice porridge. Yu Cailing immediately recognized it as her favorite beef bone and mushroom porridge. The smaller bowl beside it held pickled vegetables cured with sea salt and vinegar, savory and tangy, a specialty of Nanny Zhu’s. The last bowl, with rounded corners and square edges, surprisingly held two small pieces of sweet milk cake, rich with the aroma of dairy and an unknown amount of sugar. Yu Cailing knew that sugar was not readily available at the time. In the countryside, even two pieces of malt candy could make children drool.
Everything suited her, and Yu Cailing happily ate her meal. Nanny Zhu watched her with a cheerful smile, as if the food the girl was eating had also satisfied her own hunger. Of course, Nanny Zhu was not actually starving; she was merely projecting her feelings.
During the meal, Yu Cailing inquired about A Mei and her brother. Nanny Zhu responded with a smile, saying, "Thanks to the mistress’s kindness, A Mei will now serve you as well. As for A Liang, it’s uncertain which of the four young masters he will follow. They grew up wild in the countryside, so Madam Qing Cong is now looking for someone to teach them proper manners." She then introduced the two maids standing behind her.
The round-faced maid, about thirteen or fourteen, was named Qiao Guo. The other, with an oval face, was slightly older, around fifteen or sixteen, and was called Lian Fang. According to Nanny Zhu, Madam Xiao—renowned for her wisdom and capability—had spent months carefully training loyal and dependable maids for her daughter, anticipating her forthcoming return to the Cheng manor. These two were her careful selection.
Yu Cailing twitched her lips. Shouldn’t trusted confidants be cultivated personally to ensure they are truly dependable and not by someone else?
"Who is Madam Qing Cong?" Yu Cailing asked while nibbling on the sweet cake.
Yu Cailing lowered her head and said, "I’ll listen to Nanny Zhu." She was worried that if her former attendants came back, she might make a mistake and be discovered as not the genuine ‘Young Miss’. She wasn’t afraid of being accused of pretending; her real fear was that these superstitious people would force her to drink talisman water or burn her alive, believing she was possessed.
Nanny Zhu, satisfied, continued serving Yu Cailing, giving her a bowl of water to rinse her mouth. In truth, if her former Mother Fu and maids were here, they would surely be surprised at how agreeable their Young Miss had become. However, having cared for Yu Cailing only after she transmigrated into this body, Nanny Zhu had always felt that she was a kind-hearted girl by nature, so she found nothing unusual about it.
On the wine-red lacquered wood tray sat three small bowls of the same color, their sides decorated with strange little beasts in dark black. The slightly larger bowl in the center contained a steaming, fragrant rice porridge. Yu Cailing immediately recognized it as her favorite beef bone and mushroom porridge. The smaller bowl beside it held pickled vegetables cured with sea salt and vinegar, savory and tangy, a specialty of Nanny Zhu’s. The last bowl, with rounded corners and square edges, surprisingly held two small pieces of sweet milk cake, rich with the aroma of dairy and an unknown amount of sugar. Yu Cailing knew that sugar was not readily available at the time. In the countryside, even two pieces of malt candy could make children drool.
Everything suited her, and Yu Cailing happily ate her meal. Nanny Zhu watched her with a cheerful smile, as if the food the girl was eating had also satisfied her own hunger. Of course, Nanny Zhu was not actually starving; she was merely projecting her feelings.
During the meal, Yu Cailing inquired about A Mei and her brother. Nanny Zhu responded with a smile, saying, "Thanks to the mistress’s kindness, A Mei will now serve you as well. As for A Liang, it’s uncertain which of the four young masters he will follow. They grew up wild in the countryside, so Madam Qing Cong is now looking for someone to teach them proper manners." She then introduced the two maids standing behind her.
The round-faced maid, about thirteen or fourteen, was named Qiao Guo. The other, with an oval face, was slightly older, around fifteen or sixteen, and was called Lian Fang. According to Nanny Zhu, Madam Xiao—renowned for her wisdom and capability—had spent months carefully training loyal and dependable maids for her daughter, anticipating her forthcoming return to the Cheng manor. These two were her careful selection.
Yu Cailing twitched her lips. Shouldn’t trusted confidants be cultivated personally to ensure they are truly dependable and not by someone else?
"Who is Madam Qing Cong?" Yu Cailing asked while nibbling on the sweet cake.
Nanny Zhu chuckled. "She is the mistress’s sworn sister[3]. The mistress has relied on her support all these years. You must treat her with respect in the future."
Yu Cailing nodded. So, she is another aunt.
After finishing her meal, Qiao Guo cleared away the tray, while Lian Fang quickly retrieved a half-foot-tall lacquered wooden cylinder kept warm in a cotton nest. She then prepared hot water in a copper basin for Yu Cailing to wash. Although Yu Cailing wasn’t yet full, Nanny Zhu had only given her seventy percent of her usual portion, saying, "You’ll be taking medicine soon." After washing, Nanny Zhu pulled Yu Cailing—who was about to burrow back under the blankets—out of bed and made her walk in circles around the small room. "It’s cold outside, and the Young Miss is still weak. You need exercises to rebuild your muscles. It’s best to walk indoors for now," she said.
Yu Cailing hesitated, but the truth was clear: the once quick and fierce karate girl, known for splitting bricks, now struggled to breathe after only two laps. She used to enjoy long countryside walks watching sunsets, but now the horizon seemed just the door to her room, relying on medicine and slow recovery. Frustrated, she walked a bit, stopped, cursed softly, and wished that Second Aunt and Li Zhui would trip as they walk, sprain their waists and ankles around a corner, and encounter a smooth-talking con artist who would trick them out of their money and jewels. Bitches!
By the eighth lap around the room, she was already gasping for breath when round-faced Qiao Guo entered bearing a steaming bowl of medicine. As the thick cotton curtain was lifted, a sharp, bitter aroma hit her senses. Nanny Zhu helped her sit on the bed and eagerly held the bowl of medicine closer. She had just taken a sip when an intense bitterness spread across her tongue and forehead—bitter yet sour, sour yet spicy, with a faint metallic taste. The overwhelming mix of flavors caused tears to well up instantly. Seeing her distress, Nanny Zhu quickly comforted her, saying, "An Imperial Physician prescribed this medicine from the palace. It may not be very pleasant, but it's highly effective. Just one dose yesterday, and the Young Lady's fever broke immediately."
Nonsense! If not for the desire to recover quickly, who in their right mind would drink this cursed, moldy brew? Yu Cailing silently cursed as she tearfully brought the bowl to her lips once more. At that moment, Lian Fang's voice called from outside the door: "The master and mistress have arrived."
The door curtain lifted suddenly, letting in a faint chill as Cheng Shi and Madam Xiao entered, accompanied only by Qing Cong. Nanny Zhu, who was talking about rare ingredients in the medicine, quickly took the bowl from Yu Cailing and helped her kneel on the polished wooden floor. She folded her arms in a respectful bow and said, "Paying respects to Father and Mother. May Father and Mother be well."
Looking up, Yu Cailing observed that Cheng Shi was no longer in his military uniform today. Instead, he wore a loose, dark-colored, sleeveless robe embroidered with gold threads, secured with a black belt woven with silver. His waist was free of jade ornaments. Madam Xiao, on the other hand, donned a purple robe wrapped in large floral patterns, revealing a light purple underskirt two palms wide. A collar of snow-white fox fur framed her neck, and her hair was styled in a half-updo, secured with a golden phoenix hairpin and a white jade hair stick. White jade earrings hung from her ears, highlighting her striking beauty and noble presence.
Cheng Shi was pleased to see his daughter appearing healthier than the previous day, though he struggled to find the right words. He chuckled and sat in his chair, while Qing Cong assisted Madam Xiao into the other chair, with a table between them. Their daughter, Yu Cailing, had no choice but to kneel on the cushion below with her head bowed.
Neither Cheng Shi nor the usually perceptive Madam Xiao knew how to begin the conversation. After a gentle cough, Madam Xiao finally asked, "Are you feeling better, my child?" Yu Cailing slightly lifted her head and responded softly, "Much better." Her reply was gentle. She felt out of place among these unfamiliar parents, which caused her voice to sound naturally meek.
If she hadn't looked up, everything might have been fine. However, as soon as she did, Cheng Shi saw her tearful eyes and asked worriedly, "Why are you crying, Niao Niao?"
He was about to declare, "Now that I'm back, which bastard dares bully my daughter? Just wait till I settle the score!" when his daughter weakly answered, "It's... the medicine. It's too bitter."
Yu Cailing was unaware of how fragile she appeared at that moment. Her slender frame, with shoulder bones visible beneath her robe, and her nearly translucent, pale skin caused by illness, highlighted her delicateness. Her thin neck strained under the weight of her head, and even kneeling felt unstable, as if she might fall at any second. She was skin and bones. Her voice was a faint whisper. Cheng Shi felt that with one swipe of his large hand, he could crush her like a fledgling bird. His heart melted, and he lowered his tone. "How about adding some malt sugar to the medicine?"
This earned him a sharp look from Madam Xiao, who scolded, "Husband, don’t talk rubbish. How could we alter a physician’s prescription? Bitter medicine is beneficial for sick people. She can have some sugar afterward."
Cheng Shi quickly admitted, "You're right, my lady." He then turned to his daughter and said, "Listen to your mother. Once you recover, Father will take you horseback riding and visit the lantern festival after New Year's Day." Ever since she truly realized which body she inhabited and which family she now belonged to, Yu Cailing considered this the happiest moment she had heard of. She beamed at Cheng Shi, her pale face turning pink with joy, making her look as charming as a jade doll.
Cheng Shi was overjoyed, truly believing his daughter was the most beautiful girl in the world. Even if all the little girls sired by General Wan were gathered as a bouquet of morning glories, they wouldn't compare to her. The next time they drank, he intended to boast and revel in his pride. His chest swelled with pride, and a broad smile spread across his face.
Madam Xiao, however, still looked troubled upon seeing Yu Cailing, with a face so much like her mother's.
Cheng Shi’s self-satisfied thoughts weren’t enough, so he looked at his wife with a smile. “Our Niao Niao is truly beautiful.” He then said, “All credits go to you, my lady.”
Qing Cong rolled her eyes skyward. She had always known her master was blind. The Young Lady looked nothing like either of her parents. In her opinion, while the girl’s features weren’t bad, she seemed pitifully frail and lacked spirit. How could she compare to Madam Xiao’s radiant energy?
During that era, beauty standards favored tall, curvy women. Could the Young Miss, with proper care, grow taller and more voluptuous? While Madame Xiao was delicate at the same age, her figure was way more attractive. Qing Cong was biased and failed to consider that this girl had not been properly cared for years and was still recovering from illness. Lost in thought, Qing Cong looked up and noticed the young girl watching Cheng Shi and Madame Xiao closely. Her large, bright eyes were lively and full of energy, resembling a wild forest creature, untamed and spirited. Qing Cong paused.
Yu Cailing was examining her parents, her gaze naturally dropping to below Madam Xiao’s chest from her kneeling position. She inwardly smirked. According to Nanny Zhu, Madam Xiao had given birth to six or seven children, including those who died young, yet her figure remained attractive—curves in all the right spots. Old Man Cheng is indeed fortunate.
Unaware of her sworn sister, confidante, and daughter's thoughts, Madam Xiao looked at her husband with a frown. "Don’t go around talking nonsense. What’s the point of boasting about your daughter’s beauty all day? Developing talent and virtue is far more essential." She understood her husband better than anyone and saw through his intentions. Cheng Shi could only manage a small chuckle.
Seeing him like this, Madam Xiao recalled how delighted her husband was when the second twin was born a girl. He adored her for only three years before being separated from her for ten due to the insistence of his mother and wife. Now, he was so happy that he didn’t know what to do with himself. Her heart softened, and she sighed softly. “Everyone has eyes. Once Yong’Er and the boys come back with General Wan’s family entourage, we’ll take Niao Niao to banquets and garden parties. People will see for themselves, no need for us to say anything.”
Cheng Shi’s self-satisfied thoughts weren’t enough, so he looked at his wife with a smile. “Our Niao Niao is truly beautiful.” He then said, “All credits go to you, my lady.”
Qing Cong rolled her eyes skyward. She had always known her master was blind. The Young Lady looked nothing like either of her parents. In her opinion, while the girl’s features weren’t bad, she seemed pitifully frail and lacked spirit. How could she compare to Madam Xiao’s radiant energy?
During that era, beauty standards favored tall, curvy women. Could the Young Miss, with proper care, grow taller and more voluptuous? While Madame Xiao was delicate at the same age, her figure was way more attractive. Qing Cong was biased and failed to consider that this girl had not been properly cared for years and was still recovering from illness. Lost in thought, Qing Cong looked up and noticed the young girl watching Cheng Shi and Madame Xiao closely. Her large, bright eyes were lively and full of energy, resembling a wild forest creature, untamed and spirited. Qing Cong paused.
Yu Cailing was examining her parents, her gaze naturally dropping to below Madam Xiao’s chest from her kneeling position. She inwardly smirked. According to Nanny Zhu, Madam Xiao had given birth to six or seven children, including those who died young, yet her figure remained attractive—curves in all the right spots. Old Man Cheng is indeed fortunate.
Unaware of her sworn sister, confidante, and daughter's thoughts, Madam Xiao looked at her husband with a frown. "Don’t go around talking nonsense. What’s the point of boasting about your daughter’s beauty all day? Developing talent and virtue is far more essential." She understood her husband better than anyone and saw through his intentions. Cheng Shi could only manage a small chuckle.
Seeing him like this, Madam Xiao recalled how delighted her husband was when the second twin was born a girl. He adored her for only three years before being separated from her for ten due to the insistence of his mother and wife. Now, he was so happy that he didn’t know what to do with himself. Her heart softened, and she sighed softly. “Everyone has eyes. Once Yong’Er and the boys come back with General Wan’s family entourage, we’ll take Niao Niao to banquets and garden parties. People will see for themselves, no need for us to say anything.”
[1] The Stanislavski method is a systematic approach to actor training developed by Russian theatre practitioner Konstantin Stanislavski that aims to cultivate authentic, psychologically realistic, and emotionally expressive performances. It emphasizes drawing on an actor's own experiences and imagination to deeply understand and embody a character's inner life.
The Stanislavski method is built on several key techniques and pillars, which he refined over decades:
- Given Circumstances: Actors must thoroughly analyze all the facts provided by the script about their character and the world of the play (who, what, why, where, and when) to understand the environment and situation.
- The "Magic If": This technique requires actors to ask, "What would I do if I were in the character's situation?". This stimulates imagination, helping the actor find personal motivations and responses within the play's circumstances.
- Objectives and Super Objective: The actor determines what the character wants immediately (objective) and their overall, driving desire throughout the play (super objective). Every action and line of dialogue is informed by the pursuit of these objectives.
- Emotional Memory: In his early work, Stanislavski encouraged actors to recall personal past experiences that align with their character's emotional state to evoke genuine feelings on stage. He later found this could be exhausting and lead to tension, which led him to evolve his approach towards the "Method of Physical Action".
- Method of Physical Action: In his later work, Stanislavski focused on using a sequence of physical actions to indirectly access emotions. The idea is that conscious physical actions can trigger the necessary, subconscious emotional responses organically.
- Subtext: Actors explore the underlying meaning and motivations behind the character's lines and actions. Stanislavski famously noted that spectators often come to the theatre to "hear the subtext".
- Communion: Believable action must be directed to the other actors on stage, not the audience. This focus on truthful interaction and response between characters helps capture human truth.
[2] Involves control over one's own actions and emotions.
[3] A
"sworn sister" (or brother) is someone
who forms a deep, non-blood bond of loyalty and mutual support, often through a
ceremony, creating a familial tie stronger than friendship, common in Asian
cultures (especially China) and fantasy, signifying commitment, righteousness,
and shared destiny, like a jieyi (结义)
in Chinese. It's a commitment of lifelong loyalty, care, and aid, like family,
sealed by an oath or ritual
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