Love Knot v1c7

Author: Shi Ding Rou
Translator: yuejiin
Please do not steal my translations!

Pipi has a single dormitory in a compound not far from the newspaper office. It is very small, only has a kitchen and bedroom, and the bathroom is for public use. Pipi generally goes home on weekends and usually lives in the dorm. Hence even though she did not return overnight, there was no one interested in asking.

She changed clothes and was preparing to go to work when her phone rang.

“Pipi, I bought Jialin’s mother’s birthday present for you. The highest quality bird’s nest has a market price of 13,000. I took it from Auntie Xu’s place, and it’s still 808. This matter was settled like this. Listen to mother, you can’t go wrong.”

808! That expensive?

Pipi inwardly took a deep breath.

For Jialin’s mother’s 50th birthday, Pipi’s entire family completely saved up for half a month. In fact, it is just that Jialin casually said that he would take Pipi out for a meal, so Pipi’s entire family was nervous. After some careful analysis, everyone agreed that this is a signal that Jialin intends to officially disclose their relationship to the family. Then, the meaning of Pipi’s visit this time is different: can’t be too informal, must bring something valuable. Besides, in a household like Jialin’s, tons of people send gifts on New Year’s Day, so general gifts are not appreciated. They definitely must not let people think that they are negligent.

Several gifts were proposed, including famous tea, famous wine, ginseng, cosmetics, hand ornaments, leather bags, silk fabrics and so on…then add on five bottles of soybean paste made by Pipi’s grandmother. The soybean paste was almost ready, and Pipi’s grandmother also specially spent money in the market to buy imported glass bottles to store it in. The rest is quite a headache. It was really the first time ever for the family take out such a large sum of money just to buy a gift. Everyone agreed to be cautious. As a result, a decision was not made even after two whole weeks of discussion. Cheap, no good meaning. Expensive, can’t afford it. Pipi was so annoyed that she just wanted to pay for it herself. However, she already handed over two-thirds of her monthly salary to her family and the only thing left was meal savings and pitiful pocket money. Might as well just buy two cans of good tea and send it over. Pipi’s mom refused to agree, saying it’s negligent and that they still have to send something special.

As soon as she thought of Jialin’s mother, Aunt Meng, Pipi was a bit discouraged. After graduating from high school, other than the New Year’s holiday, she did not go to Jialin’s home. For one, she was getting older and always going was embarrassing; secondly, Pipi secretly felt in her heart that Aunt Meng was polite to her, but not very enthusiastic. At least not as enthusiastic as when she was in kindergarten: would carry her to buy popsicles, knit sweaters for her, tell Jialin who was only two months older than her to take care of her, and constantly tell Pipi’s mom that boys were so naughty and she wanted a daughter.

It could also be that she was too sensitive.

Aunt Meng was very strict with Jialin, almost excoriating. When Jialin got a score of 80 in math, he had to suffer from his mom’s ruler* when he got back home. Jialin would make his way over to Pipi’s house after enduring punishment. Grandma would feel sorry for him and go to persuade Aunt Meng, but Aunt Meng did not agree, saying girls with bad grades can still get married to a good man. Boys with bad grades, can’t be saved.

*T/N: used a ruler to hit his hands (probably)

As a result, Jialin’s growth became a 100-meter hurdle leap race. All the obstacles inside were set by his mother. He took the CET-6 in his second year of college. After graduating, he tested to become a postgraduate. His first year as a postgraduate he took the TOEFL. After passing the TOEFL, he took the GRE test. There was no end to it. Jialin hatefully said, wait until I go abroad, then she can’t watch over me.

Fear quietly rose in Pipi’s heart.

She didn’t know what she ought to do. If she went abroad with Jialin, what could she do? Reading and studying weren’t her strong points. Get a job? Be a waitress? Stay at home and have children?

She couldn’t be without Jialin.

Three months ago, after some intense reflection, Pipi enrolled in a TOEFL crash course near her dormitory. The teacher was from New Oriental. Pay the tuition fee and get a bunch of textbooks in exchange. In all subjects, Pipi’s English was still second to Chinese, unyielding, her results going from good to bad, not stable at all. But in the college entrance exam, an astonishing ninety-five points were scored, second in her grade, even higher than Jialin. It became that year’s college entrance exam’s legend. Later on she went to college, and English wasn’t important, so her grades naturally dropped. Pipi decided to quietly take the TOEFL, get a good score, and surprise Jialin.

On the other end of the phone, Pipi’s mom was still animatedly talking about how she bargained with Aunt Xu.

Pipi glanced at her watch, making a swift decision: “All right Mom. In any case, the newspaper office will distribute bonuses next month, so it can be counted as I bought it.”

“What talk about money with your own family, my money is your money. It’s good as long as Jialin’s mom is happy.”

After hanging up, Pipi suddenly felt a bit sad. This month Mom was always coughing, her throat all hoarse. The doctor said Chuanbei Loquat Extract is effective, but she was reluctant to buy it because it’s expensive, so everyday she steamed pear water to drink. It was Pipi who was unable to overlook this and bought her four bottles. Now she handed off 808, which was generous enough. 808, how many things would it take Dad to sell to earn that back? 

Tuesday is the editor-in-chief’s office’s routine filing time. Pipi was busy from morning to night, and the day quickly passed just like that. When it was time to get off work, Wei Qingtan really did send her an internship journalist card. Pipi was overjoyed, immediately giving her an account of yesterday’s interview. She only said she finally succeeded in talking to Helan Jingting, even discussing the question of ancient jade for ten minutes. As for the strange thing that happened last night, she completely concealed and did not speak of it. After all, Pipi had spent a year in the news department and knew the speed of rumors. Speaking out about herself would definitely not protect her reputation.

“Hehe, good progress. As expected, towards you this Helan’s precautions are not deep.” Wei Qingtan stuffed a prenatal vitamin into her mouth, lifting her head to down half a bottle of mineral water, then taking out a notebook from her bag, “According to the report, Helan Jingting will go to Jingtian Auction House to bid for some ancient jade. Among these is a jade tiger from the Warring States period, said to be his greatest objective. He is going to the V city Museum tonight.”

“V city Museum? What is he going to do there?”

“Don’t know.”

V City is a prefecture-level city under the jurisdiction of C City and not far from C city, about an hour and a half’s drive on the freeway.

Pipi picked up the journalist card, grabbing her small bag and heading out the door, “I’m going to V city Museum to find him.”

“You have his phone number?”

“……no.” That day she threw Helan Jingting’s business card away, Pipi really regretted it down to her guts.

Wei Qingtan handed her a piece of paper with a number on it, “Pipi, that’s the difference between old and new journalists.”

“He lives on 56 Xianting Street,” Pipi promptly added this sentence.

Wei Qingtan’s eyebrows rose, picking up her notebook to note it, “You’re actually really good. I didn’t even know that.”

Pipi walked to the entrance hall, dialing Helan Jingting’s phone.

That side gave a languid “hello”.

“I’m…Guan Pipi.”

“Oh.” Helan Jingting’s voice was a bit surprised, “How do you know my number?”

“Didn’t you give me a business card before?”

“What’s on the business card is the office’s landline.”

Her cover was blown.

“It was the museum’s people who told me.”

“Impossible, unless you know the curator.”

“How do you know I don’t know the curator?”

There was silence.

After a while, Helan Jingting asked, “What’s up?”

“Can I interview you today?”

“No.”

“It’s like this, I heard you’re going to V city Museum. Can I go with you?”

“What are you going to do there?”

“To go look at what you’re going to do.”

“Ridiculous.”

He hung up.

Without another word, Pipi got on the bus to V city.

. . .

The sky darkens very early in winter. Upon arriving at V city Museum’s entrance, Pipi discovered that it was still during open hours. Only after she bought a ticket and entered did she learn that the museum was currently doing a retrospective exhibition of centennial photos, playing old movies at the same time. In order to attract more people to come look, they did not hesitate to extend open hours.

Waiting by the entrance for half an hour, she saw Helan Jingting walk in as she had expected.

Pipi quickly greeted, “Hey, Mr. Helan!”

Helan Jingting impatiently wrinkled his brows and looked around the lobby, his expression a little surprised as he sighed, “Only half a year that I didn’t visit, yet the layout has completely changed.”

The difference between local and provincial cities was still very large. V city Museum looked very dilapidated, the front door had been in disrepair for a long time, the walls were peeling off, and the smell of the bathroom filled the entire hall.

Helan Jingting walked straight inside. Walking a few steps, he found that Pipi kept following him, so he stopped again:

“Why are you following me?”

“This is a public venue, are you able to control where I go?”

Helan Jingting looked at his watch, obviously having no time for oral combat with her, and continued to move forward.

She followed him into an office. A middle-aged woman who looked like a secretary walked out of the room, and her hand was full of melon seeds, “Sir, who are you looking for?”

“I am C city Museum’s consultant, Helan Jingting.” He handed over his business card, then very politely shook her hand, “Hello*.”

“Hello*.”

*T/N: They use the polite/formal version of hello here (nin hao rather than nihao), and continue to address each other formally.

“I wanted to come here to see an ancient jade collection in your museum.” He took out a picture, “It’s this one. The Warring States period jade tiger.”

Then, he handed over two papers, “This is a letter of introduction and my ID card.”

The secretary looked at the letter of introduction carefully, then looked at Pipi, asking, “Then, this person is—”

Not waiting for Helan Jingting to open his mouth, Pipi rushed to reply, “I am Mr. Helan’s work assistant.”

“Wait a moment, I’ll go in the warehouse to ask.”

The office looked very messy, the table stacked with a pile of papers. There was an old computer in the right corner, the screen full of dust. It was at this moment, Pipi’s stomach called out gugu⁽¹⁾. In order to catch the bus, she didn’t attend to eating. Now, her stomach was really hungry.

⁽¹⁾咕咕 (gūgū): sound effect for growling stomach

Her stomach continued to growl, in this quiet museum, the sound was simply resonant. Pipi was really embarrassed, lowering her head and secretly taking a look at Helan Jingting.

His face didn’t have the slightest bit of expression, sitting silently to the side and acting as if he had not heard.

After a while, the secretary came back, shaking her head as soon as she entered the door, “My apologies, the ancient jade you spoke of isn’t here.”

She made a gesture of sending out the guests.

“Not here?” Helan Jingting had no intention of leaving, coldly humphing, “This is a national relic, you say it’s not here. What do you mean?”

“Not here means it’s not here, what other meaning could it have?” The secretary’s tone was unyielding.

“A national relic, how can it not be here?”

“The meaning of not here…is to say, it’s at the curator’s place, in his office.” The secretary finally confessed.

“Then I must trouble you to ask the curator for instructions.”

The secretary still wanted to make an excuse, but seeing Helan Jingting’s face sinking like iron, she hesitated a moment before heading next door to make the call.

After a while, she returned and said, “Please follow me.”

 

Glossary:
⁽¹⁾咕咕 (gūgū): sound effect for growling stomach

yuejiin: I’m grateful to the like,, three people who actually look forward to my updates and I’m sorry I suck at updating lol. I think I need to come out and say … my Chinese sucks :’). I know household words and can maybe read and translate a little less than half of these chapters using my own knowledge. The rest I have to baidu or pleco (which I then like to lie to myself and say I’m learning more Chinese but I’m not really bc my memory sucks) or I even ask my mom LOL. I decided to try translating this for FUN (an experiment, if you will) because I wanted to read this novel and allow others to read it too. Anyways, I’ll keep trying and thanks to those few who actually read this 🙂
(also idk why the chapter list on novelupdates is duplicating/missing chapters)