Chapter 653: Zhang Zian’s Wife?
Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio
The streets bustled with life, a contrast to the abnormal peace within the store.
It was a suitable day for story-telling.
Most stories started out in a dim, empty room, an old man in a rocking chair with a wool blanket draped over his knees. The fireplace behind him crackled and popped.
The rocking chair made him feel as though he was floating amidst the river of time, remembering the good old days.
A boy and a girl, laid on a carpet, their chins resting on their hands, waiting for the old man to tell a story of something that happened a long time ago. A story of the old man’s life, a story of passion, a story that was captivatingly heartbreaking.
If there was an old retriever next to the rocking chair, it would’ve been perfect.
There were no rocking chairs in the pet store, only a reclining chair. There were no kids on the floor, only two cats in their tree. Although there was a dog beside Zhang Zian, it wasn’t an old retriever, it was a young Famous. Zhang Zian wasn’t an old man, and stories weren’t interesting. There was no blanket over his knees, but there was a parrot on his shoulder. The only one who seemed to be prepared for the story was Galaxy, who sat right in front of the chair.
Today was still a good day for story-telling, as the most important factor was atmosphere, and the atmosphere in the store was good.
The elfins knew that Pi had been writing a story that featured all of them, but no one knew how Pi described them. They were all curious, but out of respect, they didn’t ask about the contents of the novel. Secretly reading the novel wasn’t possible as Pi’s novel wasn’t a physical book, and their paws couldn’t work a phone or computer.
Fina yawned. “I, the queen, wouldn’t mind listening, but don’t expect me to speak. A few thousand years ago, scribes faithfully recorded my words, thinking that Pi was just a monkey. If you’re telling me that it’s skills are better than that of the scribes, I don’t believe you.”
Just like how ancient China had historians who recorded the words and deeds of the emperor, ancient Egypt had scribes who were responsible for recording everything regarding the royal family. For example, royal scribe Thanuny recorded Thutmose III at the Battle of Megiddo, on the walls of the Karnak Temple. Being the reincarnation of the Cat Goddess and the beloved pet of Cleopatra VII, having its words and actions recorded wasn’t out of the ordinary.
Zhang Zian said, “You’re not wrong, but back then, you were just a regular cat, right? Pi wrote you as an elfin, you can’t compare the two.”
“A regular cat? Nonsense!” Fina glared at him. “I was born extraordinary, don’t compare me with common cats.”
“Okay, but you get what I’m trying to say, right?” Zhang Zian didn’t wish to have an argument with Fina. “You weren’t able to speak back then.”
Fina snorted, not speaking another word.
“Meow! Although my birth doesn’t compare to her majesty’s, I’ve seen much of life.” Snowy Lionet chimed in. “I heard that Pi’s novel is of the urban life genre. Urban life just describes the daily lives of common folks. I’m not trying to be mean, but Lanling Sheng did it first.”
Although it was arrogant, Zhang Zian couldn’t refute what Snowy Lionet said. Chin Ping Mei was indeed the first classic Chinese novel with a common mortal as the main character, and the daily lives of common folk as the theme. Before that, main characters were either legendary heroes like Sun Wukong or royalty like Liu Bei, so Lanling Sheng has an irreplaceable spot in the history of Chinese literature.
From this perspective, urban life novels were products of the precedent that Lanling Sheng set, making him the originator of urban novels. Lanling Sheng was very skillful in his portrayal of characters.
“That’s right, Pi’s novel is of the urban life genre, but it’s different from Sheng’s novel. In Chin Ping Mei, the people or animals don’t have special abilities, while Pi’s novel is more of an urban legend.” Zhang Zian felt that comparing Lanling Sheng to Pi was really unfair.
Zhang Zian pointed at his face and said, “The legend is right in front of all of you. I have so many titiles: cat trainer, Wing Chun grandmaster, Head Dog Trainer of a movie crew, and so on. Is that not a legend?”
After he finished talking, Zhang Zian lifted his head, nose towards the sky, and tried his best to avoid Fina’s despising stare.
“Ha! You think you’re a legend?” Snowy Lionet clicked her tongue in disdain. “You’d be more of a legend if you were castrated.”
“I just have one question, do you have a boyfriend in the novel?” Richard asked.
“No!” Zhang Zian shot back. “I don’t have one in reality, so why would I have one in the novel?”
“Wasn’t it supposed to be partly fictitious? I’m disappointed!” Richard exclaimed, flapping its wings.
“Don’t make stuff up!” Zhang Zian said. “Is there even a point in giving me a boyfriend in the novel?”
“Of course. Aren’t novels meant to make up for any dissatisfactions in life?” Richard inquired.
Zhang Zian declared, “I’m not dissatisfied in the slightest!”
“You have no boyfriend, no girlfriend, how aren’t you dissatisfied?” Richard rolled its eyes. “Since everyone here is knowledgeable about Egyptian scribes and Lanling Sheng, I shall recite a poem for the occasion.”
Zhang Zian knew full well that any poem out its mouth wouldn’t be a good one, he tried to grab its beak, but he was a step too late. Richard had flown up in the air, hovering above them as it recited loudly:
“Alone in the study was a wife, outsiders shall not hear of this life;
Changing from the left hand to right, is a divorce and a new bride.
Stroke after stroke, quivering numbness as pleasures within were provoked;
On the floor they splatter, kids and offspring become one with nature!”
