Rock Sugar And Pear Stew Chapter 10

Chapter 10 – A plan (Translated by Xing and edited by Souhi) 

Tang Xue was a.s.signed to one of the newer dorms built when the seven universities merged. Each dorm room could accommodate four people and had its own air conditioner and en suite bathroom. Besides her, two others had already moved in. Both Zhao Qin and Ye Liuying majored in agriculture engineering. It was Tang Xue’s last roommate, Xia Menghuan, who was the one also in veterinary science. Unfortunately, she had yet to arrive. Tang Xue suspected that this la.s.s probably could not accept the reality of being in veterinary science and had gone back to prepare for and retake the university entrance exams.

The three present roommates all came from different provinces. After returning to her dorm that evening, Tang Xue started chatting with Zhao Qin and Ye Liuying, and each took turn to share their major. Upon hearing Tang Xue was a.s.signed to major in veterinary science, both girls comforted her, saying that veterinary science majors have much potential after graduation. For instance, one could become a veterinarian, open a pet clinic, or enter an animal welfare organization, which were all rather decent prospects. As she listened, Tang Xue thought, how was it that others could have such a contemporary take on her major while her father could only think of milk lactation in sows? Just what on earth had her old man gone through to single-mindedly think this way?

That night, Tang Xue went to bed with dreams of a bright future. When she woke up the next morning, another person had appeared in the room.

This person was around 1.6m, skinny and had shockingly pale skin. Her long dark brown hair draped over her shoulder and gently rippled like soft silk with every movement.

The girl had just stepped into the room and put down her two large suitcases. She turned her head and immediately saw Tang Xue who was staring at her while sprawled across her bed. She smiled at Tang Xue. “Hey there.”

Her tone was unbelievably gentle and soft.

Tang Xue almost melted. She quickly got up and spoke, “h.e.l.lo h.e.l.lo. You must be Xia Menghuan. I thought you weren’t coming.”

“My house is quite near. That’s why I didn’t come yesterday.”

All four roommates officially gathered together for the first time. Zhao Qin pointed to Xia Menghuan’s large suitcases and asked, “Did you carry them over yourself?”

“Nope, I met some kind hearted person on my way here.”

“How come I didn’t meet someone like this. It must be because you’re pretty.”

“Well, if it’s a guy, no matter if he’s tall, short, fat, skinny, old, young, good looking or ugly, call him “handsome” and he’ll most likely turn into a kind hearted person.”

Tang Xue thought that Xia Menghuan’s advice was pretty amusing. She glanced at the time and appeared somewhat excited to have breakfast. She called Liao Zhenyu.

Tang Xue: “Handsome.”

Liao Zhenyu: “……!!!”

Tang Xue: “Handsome~~~”

“Boss, what’s wrong with you? Don’t

be like this, I’m scared…… Just call me Little Liao or Xiao Yu Zi[1]. If these still really can’t do, ‘son of b.i.t.c.h’ works for me as well……”

Tang Xue pressed a hand to her forehead. “Cut the c.r.a.p. Deliver breakfast to me.”

“Yes ma’am.”

……

Liao Zhenyu won a white bicycle when charging his phone credits yesterday. The bicycle’s design leaned towards cute and charming, and was relatively small. With Liao Zhenyu’s tall build, him riding this bicycle was akin to someone charging down the highway on a small fluffy white sheep: both were cringeworthy sights to behold.

Liao Zhenyu rode his bicycle down to the entrance of the agricultural science building, where he pa.s.sed breakfast to Tang Xue.

Xia Menghuan was standing beside Tang Xue. She curiously examined him before quietly asking Tang Xue, “Your boyfriend?”

Her voice was purposely lowered but Liao Zhenyu still managed to hear her. He beckoned her over with his finger. “Schoolmate, please come here.”

“Huh?” Xia Menghuan walked towards him.

Liao Zhenyu sternly looked at her. “Look at my eyes.”

Xia Menghuan was puzzled but still did as she was told.

Liao Zhenyu: “Do I look blind?”

“……”

Tang Xue was originally trying to figure out what was for breakfast. At his words, she immediately raised a leg and a.s.sumed the posture of wanting to kick him. With a sudden burst of speed, Liao Zhenyu leapt onto his bicycle and quickly fled with the haste of a rabid dog.

He left a message in his wake. “Boss, let’s have lunch together!”

Tang Xue attended lessons with Xia Menghuan and saw that her handwriting was as beautiful and delicate as her actual person. With Xia Menghuan’s frail looking appearance, gentle behaviour and soft manner of speaking, Tang Xue felt that Xia Menghuan was one very pure and innocent lady.

This impression roughly lasted for four hours, right till lunchtime.

During lunch, Xia Menghuan bought a grilled sausage and two fried taro b.a.l.l.s. She placed the sausage in the centre of her plate and arranged the taro b.a.l.l.s on an end of the sausage, one on each side.

This was a shape one could find in biology textbooks.

Tang Xue’s jaw nearly dropped off.

Liao Zhenyu who was sitting beside Tang Xue secretly sent her a text.

Liao Zhenyu: Boss, I think your roommate is a rogue[2].

Tang Xue: Shut up, you.

Liao Zhenyu: I didn’t say anything. I’m only typing.

Liao Zhenyu: Boss, I’m actually more worried about your safety right now.

Liao Zhenyu: Oh wait, what am I afraid of. My boss is the CHIEF of all rogues. What does she need to fear from this one little rogue?

Tang Xue: = =

Tang Xue heavily stomped on Liao Zhenyu’s foot before he finally stopped.

Tang Xue felt that Xia Menghuan must had accidentally done this and thus discreetly warned her.

Tang Xue: Sister Huan, there’s a small D on your plate!

Xia Menghuan: It’s not a small D, it’s a big D. (＾－＾)V

Tang Xue: ……

This story tells us that in life, one should study well and enter university.

university. Once in university, you’ll vastly broaden your horizons and experience a world more wondrous than you ever thought it could be.

Picture is of Chinese actress Liu Yifei. For reasons above, check back here for a picture of XMH and her lunch 

……

After lunch, Tang Xue and gang saw a recruitment notice on the bulletin board outside the canteen. The bulletin board was peppered with gaudily coloured notices akin to the brightly embroidered handkerchiefs waved by ladies in ancient pleasure houses, each doing their utmost to attract as many eyeb.a.l.l.s as possible. It was this notice with its clean design of plain text neatly typed in a black and white Arial font that stood out jarringly from the rest.

The notice was recruiting part-timers for the school’s indoor ice rink. The job scope was a.s.sorted odd jobs and miscellaneous tasks. Students would be paid on an hourly basis with the perk of ice skating for free.

Tang Xue’s eyes lit up at that last line. She held her chin and smiled. “This suits me.”

“Boss, are we signing up for this?”

Tang Xue was about to speak when a stranger interrupted her. The girl looked at them and asked, “Girl, in your first year?

“Yup, senior. What’s the matter?”

The senior pointed to the recruitment notice. “Forget this. Go find another part-time job as a tutor or a service staff in a restaurant or café instead.”

“Why’s that?”

“It’s way too compet.i.tive. You need connections to get in. Do you guys have it?”

The three of them shook their heads in unison.

Tang Xue was confused. She swiftly probed, “Why is it compet.i.tive? The job pay doesn’t seem to be that great……”

“You don’t understand. Those who work in the ice rink get to see members of the school ice hockey team. Have you heard of them?” At this, the female senior let out a small tee hee. She revealed an excited smile that was somewhat salacious. “The most attractive guys in school, all gathered in. one. place.”

Tang Xue was a bit disappointed. She pursed her lips and softly grumbled, “But I really want to ice skate for free.”

Liao Zhenyu piped up, “Boss, why not we just give it a try. It’s not like it’ll cost us anything.”

The three went to download and print the application form. To attract the recruiter’s attention and show their sincerity in applying, they decided to fill the form by hand and attach their photos.

Liao Zhenyu had the best handwriting out of the three of them. His words were immaculate and elegant. It was with this penmans.h.i.+p that he secured his marks in the university entrance exam essay.

Because of this, Tang Xue pa.s.sed her application form over to Liao Zhenyu. She dictated while he wrote. The next moment, Liao Zhenyu scoffed, “First place in the city’s short track speed skating compet.i.tion? Personally received by the mayor? That’s so full of it. Boss, you’re really going all out to succeed huh……”

“It’s all true. I didn’t mention

didn’t mention it previously because I wanted to keep a low profile.”

At the side, Xia Menghuan was deep in thought while biting her pen. After hearing Tang Xue’s words, she asked, “Why didn’t you continue skating? I think short track speed skating is pretty amazing.”

Tang Xue bit her lips. “Um, there were university entrance exams to focus on.”

……

After filling in the forms, the three headed to the office located on the first floor of the ice rink. There, a young lady named Ma was on duty. They addressed her as Teacher Ma.

Teacher Ma accepted their application forms with a smile and casually flipped through it. “Are all of you first year students?”

“Yeah!”

“Veterinary science majors?”

“Eh……”

“Your major doesn’t matter,” Teacher Ma rea.s.sured them. “First years usually have more free time and that’s also quite good.”

“Thanks, Teacher Ma!”

Teacher Ma placed their application forms on the table. There was already a stack of forms more than half a foot tall on it.

Looking at that thick stack of papers, Tang Xue suspected that every girl in school had applied.

Bunch of lunatics. It’s a part-time job, not an eye candy feast. If you want to ogle at male G.o.ds[3], go ogle on the internet! Head over to teafragrance[dot]wordpress[dot]com if translator’s notes and characters trivia are missing, you want to read without ads, or if you simply want to see a picture of Xia Menghuan with her lunch mwahahaha.

She felt a little dispirited. TAT

After the three left, Teacher Ma picked up Tang Xue’s application form again. She clicked her tongue and shook her head. “Her handwriting is quite decent. What a pity.”

In actual fact, “Teacher” Ma was not a teacher at all. She was an administrative staff named Ma Xiaoshan who was stationed in the RCU Ice Skating Rink by the Dauntless Dragon Ice Hockey Club.

The Dauntless Dragon Ice Hockey Club had close collaboration with RCU. This recruitment was actually organized by them. However, even though the ice hockey club was the one recruiting, they still had to show some courtesy to the RCU Student Union. Since the Student Union had certain people in mind for the job, the ice hockey club simply went along with it. Anyway, it was only a part-time job that did not require any special skills.

The quota for recruitment had nearly been filled behind closed doors. Applicants without any connections were doomed to fail selection. This selection procedure was a little against Ma Xiaoshan’s conscience but it was not her place to say anything.

Around sunset, it was almost time for Ma Xiaoshan to get off work. At this moment, someone knocked on the office door.

“Please come in!”

Just as the door opened, she raised her head and saw the person standing outside.

Through the streaks of sunlight from the window, Ma Xiaoshan gazed at the strapping figure. When she opened her mouth, her voice was a little tense. She was way too nervous……

Ma Xiaoshan: “Ice, Ice G.o.d. h.e.l.lo.”

With one hand in his pocket and his pocket and a backpack slung over a shoulder, this person took long strides into the office. Upon hearing Ma Xiaoshan’s greeting, he gave a noncommittal “mm” and said, “I’m here for my courier delivery.”

“Oh oh!” Ma Xiaoshan hurriedly bounded up from her chair and went to look for Ice G.o.d’s parcel.

When taking the parcel, he murmured his thanks. Ma Xiaoshan’s face reddened. “You’re, you’re welcome.”

Turning, he was about to leave when his eyes casually swept the area and noticed the stack of forms on the table.

His exceedingly good eyesight zoomed in on the name column of the top sheet, where the two words “Tang Xue” were written, clear as day.

A pair of long legs which was about to step out immediately retracted and turned back into the office.

A fair and broad hand reached out to picked up the application form.

Ma Xiaoshan secretly peeked over from the side and felt that Ice G.o.d’s expression was a little strange…… strange but still very good looking……

After looking at the form for a while, his inscrutable expression suddenly smoothed out. “Ah……”

He then flicked the application form with his fingers, a faint smile on his face. “This person is mine.”

Translator’s Notes:

[1] Adding a 小 (xiǎo), which means little, to the front of someone’s surname is one way of expressing your close relations.h.i.+p with a good friend. Other ways of affectionately addressing them include repeating one of their name characters (usually the last character) twice or adding an 儿 (er) to it. For example, a close friend may address Tang Xue as Xiao Tang (Little Tang), Xue Xue, or Xue’er.

As for 小 X 子 (xiǎo X zi), it’s the standard way of naming eunuchs in the past. Replace the X with a random character and voila, you have yourself a new eunuch name.

[2] The original phrase is 流氓 (liú máng), which was first mentioned in chapter 4. 流氓 directly translates to ruffian, hooligan or gangster. It is a slang used to refer to people who are behaving or intending to behave in an indecent manner, s.e.xually hara.s.s or flirtatiously tease another person. This term is non-gender specific and can either be used jokingly among friends or in outrage depending on the scenario. Take note of this phrase as it will come up again and again in this story. You may spy it in a lot of other Chinese novels as well.

[3] If you’ve been reading Chinese novels, using the term 大神 (dà shén), Great G.o.d, to describe extremely attractive or talented people probably isn’t foreign to you. There is the more gender specific 男神 (nán shén), male G.o.d, for guys and 女神 (nǚ shén), G.o.ddess, for girls. Another way of using this is like how Ma Xiaoshan addressed another character as “Ice G.o.d”. In Chinese, this usage is quite natural and less superfluous then it sounds.